Vietnamese drug dealers

An article form the WAtoday.com.au on 5/2/10 written by daniel Fogarty and Clarisse Ede titled Police smash alleged $9m Cannabis ring.


Cannabis plants with an alleged street value of $9 million have been seized after police smashed what they say is a significant Melbourne drug ring.
More than 100 detectives were involved in arresting 13 people and raiding 16 houses in the southeastern suburbs of Hampton Park, Narre Warren, Berwick and Endeavour Hills over the past two days.
Nine people have been charged.
Most of the houses contained hydroponic commercial cannabis crops as part of a sophisticated cannabis trafficking network, police allege.
Police allegedly seized more than 1100 cannabis plants, weighing more than half a tonne, and more than $250,000 cash.
Seven people appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon to face charges including cultivating and trafficking a commercial quantity of cannabis.
Those charged are Hampton Park men Steven Bui, 28, Adam Ing, 26, Ngoc Vu, 39, Phong Van Nguyen, 53, and Cuong Hoang, 38.
Bui faces the most charges of any accused - 17 including eight counts of trafficking cannabis, six counts of cultivating cannabis and three counts of stealing electricity.
Also charged are Minh Tan Nguyen, 41, of Narre Warren South and Coung Van Nguyen, 27, of Berwick.
All have been remanded in custody, with Ing, who has lived in Australia for three years, and Mihn Nguyen to apply for bail on Monday.
The court heard the men speak little or no English and are not Australian citizens. Hoang and Phong Nguyen are New Zealand citizens, the court heard.
They will all appear in court for a committal mention on July 23.
Two other men connected to the alleged drug ring were charged and bailed.
Earlier on Friday, Taskforce head Detective Inspector Doug Fryer said the operation would have a significant impact on the illegal cannabis trade.
"This successful operation has removed in excess of half a tonne of cannabis from making it on the streets," he said in a statement.
"We will continue to focus on organised crime groups involved in commercial drug trafficking with part of our goal being to strip them of all their assets."