Calderwood Cannabis Crop Duo Sentenced: Refugee's Regret and Baker's Debt
Two men from Western Sydney, Quoc Hung Au, 30, and Linh Quan, 30, have been sentenced in Wollongong District Court for their involvement in a large-scale cannabis operation in Calderwood. Both individuals pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal group and supplying a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs, with the seized cannabis weighing a total of 99 kilograms.
Dramatic Police Raid Uncovered Processing Operation
On May 29, 2024, specialised tactical response police officers executed a crime scene warrant at a semi-rural property in Calderwood. Upon entering a large farm shed, they discovered ten offenders actively processing cannabis. The group was ordered to lie on the ground as officers searched the industrial shed, which had been converted into a significant processing area for harvested cannabis.
Quan and Au attempted to flee through a side door but were apprehended by police approximately 200 metres away. Inside the shed, authorities found:
- Six greenhouses containing pots with roots from recently harvested cannabis plants
- Discarded stems, growing medium, and watering infrastructure
- Tables covered in cannabis and large bags of the drug
- Drying racks positioned next to heaters and fans
The court heard that a truck was necessary to transport the seized cannabis, highlighting the scale of the operation. DNA evidence from tapelifts and prior police surveillance linked both men to the crop.
Court Proceedings Reveal Personal Motivations and Remorse
During the sentencing, the court learned that Au, who now works in a bakery, was driven by financial pressures to pay off substantial debts he owed overseas. He spent 254 days in custody, which the judge noted had a salutary effect. In a letter to the court, Au expressed remorse, apologising to Australia for the wrongful things I did.
Quan, who arrived in Australia on a refugee visa in December 2023, described feeling scared, lonely, and helpless during his 349 days in custody. His elderly parents in Vietnam were deeply saddened and disappointed upon hearing of his arrest. Both men had no prior criminal convictions, and Judge Imad Abdul-Karim found them to be genuinely remorseful with potential for rehabilitation.
Sentencing Outcomes for the Defendants
Quan received a jail sentence of 15 months with a non-parole period of 11 months. This sentence was back-dated to his arrest date, meaning he had already served more time than his non-parole period required. Au was placed on an intensive correction order for six months, which includes a condition to complete 80 hours of unpaid community service work.
The case underscores the serious consequences of involvement in commercial drug operations, with both men facing significant legal penalties for their actions in the Calderwood cannabis crop.
