Quoc Vinh Tran, 31, of St Albans, Thanh Nguyen, 46, of Sunshine, and Thai Son Dang, 31, of Braybrook, successfully applied for bail at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, March 21.
It was the second application by Mr Nguyen, who was previously denied bail on February 11.
The three men are charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis, trafficking a large commercial quantity of cannabis, possession of cannabis, possession of cannabis cultivation equipment, stealing power from Powercor, possession of an unregistered handgun, dealing with suspected proceeds of crime and possession of cartridge ammunition without a licence or permit.
Two other co-accused, Vinh Quang Nguyen and Duy Duc Dao, also face the same charges.
The court heard the five men were found wearing hi-vis workwear in the entryway of a large greenhouse when police carried out a search warrant on February 9, 2022.
Police uncovered 8805 cannabis plants and 2400 seedlings on the Toolamba property, as well as a purpose-built drying room, cultivation equipment and an electrical bypass allegedly stealing power.
Inside a house and granny flat, police found more than $6000 in cash suspected of being the proceeds of crime, a modified flare gun and ammunition cartridges.
Magistrate Marita Altman granted bail based on a combination of factors: the men had no prior convictions, “triable issues” with the case and the availability of addresses and sureties — ranging between $25,000 and $50,000.
Police informant First Constable Brodie Asquith told the court Mr Nguyen was an Australian citizen, while Mr Dang was on a bridging visa and Mr Tran was on a student visa — both from Vietnam.
He told the court police believed the men were “extreme” flight risks with no ties to the area and with no lawful employment to support themselves while on bail, could return to cannabis cultivation as a source of income.
All three men were represented by lawyer Ian Lloyd, who questioned the strength of the prosecution case, particularly any evidence of the men’s role in growing and cultivating the cannabis.
“They may have merely been visiting a friend,” he told the court.
He also said there was no reason for the men to flee the country and they wouldn’t be able to once any passports were surrendered as part of their bail conditions.
The men were bailed to different addresses in Melbourne under conditions to report to a police station three times a week, comply with a 9pm to 6am curfew, not communicate with the co-accused and not to leave Victoria or attend a place of international departure.
All five men are set to face court later this year.
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