Vietnamese national charged with drug and vape trafficking

A 24-year-old Vietnamese national has been charged with drug and vape trafficking after he was arrested in his vehicle yesterday.

Since June last year, officers from Gungahlin General Duties have been investigating the sale and distribution of cannabis and vapes in the Gungahlin district, with arrests made and intelligence gathered by the officers.  

Yesterday (Friday, 7 September 2024) the 24-year-old man was observed by police to conduct multiple exchanges of goods from a vehicle at multiple locations across the ACT. Many of these exchanges occurred with teenagers in school uniforms. 

About 12.20pm yesterday in Phillip, police arrested the man and seized the vehicle (a blue Hyundai Elantra) he was sitting in.  

Search warrants were sought to examine the vehicle as well as a residence in Franklin.  

In the vehicle police located: 
51 vapes 
$975 in cash 
Approximately 68 grams of cannabis 
Approximately 110 grams of a green liquid suspected to contain cannabis.  

At the Franklin home police located: 
More than 600 vapes 
Hydroponic growing equipment 
Nine cannabis plants 
Approximately 800 ‘gummy lollies’ in the shape of bears or cannabis leaf 
A slow cooker with approximately 4 litres of a green liquid believed to contain cannabis 
Moulds in the shape of bears or cannabis leaf  
Drying racks 
Approximately 500grams of dried cannabis 

Police believe the man is responsible for a significant volume of illegal vape and cannabis distribution in the ACT with analysis of bank statements across a recent three-day period showing deposits totalling almost $6500.

The 24-year-old Vietnamese national will face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Saturday, 7 September 2024) charged with possess property suspected to be the proceeds of crime, traffic in cannabis, supply vaping goods in Australia, possess a commercial quantity of vaping goods. This is the first time a person has been charged with Commonwealth supply and possession of vaping goods offences in the ACT.   

Anyone who has information about vape or illicit drug distribution in the ACT is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Information can be provided anonymously.