Quang Tuan Bui jailed over cannabis haul belonging to Vietnamese crime network in Geraldton suburb of Rangeway

A Vietnamese man has been jailed for three years and eight months over his role as a “supervisor” for two cannabis grow-houses in Geraldton. Marijuana with a street value of about $500,000 was seized in police raids in the suburb of Rangeway in May last year. Quang Tuan Bui appeared in the District Court on Thursday for sentencing over his role at the houses, with the court told that he was “in charge” of the properties for about three months. Prosecutor Hannah Milligan said the grow-houses were part of a Vietnamese criminal network that were established before Bui joined the operation. But he took steps, including buying new equipment, to further the 265 plant crop. Ms Milligan said Bui was given written instructions on a “day-to-day basis” from crime bosses. The 42-year-old was charged with two counts of cultivating a prohibited plant, two counts of illegally modifying the power supply and failing to provide access to his mobile phone. Bui’s lawyer Kate Fry told the court that her client regretted his involvement and did not realise it was such a big operation when he agreed to participate. “He is very sorry that he has brought shame to his family, his children, his country and he’s also very sorry that he’s done wrong by the Australian people by being involved with this,” she said. Ms Fry said that Bui had initially only agreed to do it for a short time as he was leaving the country but ended up involved longer because of COVID-19. Sentencing Bui, Judge Karen Shepherd found the two Rangeway properties had been converted into a “sophisticated hydroponic cannabis operation” for a successful commercial enterprise. “I’m going to sentence you on the basis that you were not at the top of this criminal organisation ... but you were trusted to be in charge of the two properties,” she told Bui. “You will be deported upon the expiry of your minimum term.” Co-offender Hoai Thi Tran was jailed for four-and-a-half years in February for her role cultivating the plants in exchange for food, board and a small pay cheque.