Four Vietnamese nationals who were promised $150 a day to work at a multi-million-dollar illegal cannabis farm likely face deportation after being released on suspended sentences.
Huu Hai Do, aged 55, Minh Van Lu, 29, Tuan Xuan Vu, 35, and Thang Van Pham, 41 pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Wednesday to producing cannabis and possessing the drug in an amount exceeding 500 grams.
Crown prosecutor James Bishop said the four men were arrested during a police raid on a property at Gungaloon, on Queensland's Fraser Coast, on November 7, 2023.
"During the search there were three large greenhouse tents, in each were eight grow tunnels containing a total of 9438 cannabis in various stages of growth. It was a sophisticated set-up," Mr Bishop said.
He said a farmhouse at the property was used for processing, drying and packaging the drug, and contained a further 1650 plants and 415 kilograms of dried cannabis.
"(Defendant) Do told police he was employed as a cleaner at the property for $150 a day," Mr Bishop said.
Chief Judge Brian Devereaux said the defendants appeared to be labourers on the farm, which contained a crop of cannabis that would have a commercial value at harvest of more than $27 million along with $3 million worth of dried product.
"Has anyone else been charged at a higher level?" Judge Devereaux said.
Mr Bishop said another person had been charged with packaging cannabis and taking it to "dead drops".
"He is allegedly higher up the chain than these guys," Mr Bishop said.
Vu's barrister Timothy Wise said his client had entered Australia in May 2023 and had spent six months at the farm after being taken there from Victoria.
"He came across an advert for work on a farm in the Maryborough area. He did not know the nature of work. Once he found out, he had nowhere else to go," Mr Wise said.
Pham's barrister Thomas Polley said his client had also answered a job ad for what he thought was legitimate work after his family in North Vietnam suffered from a financial disaster.
"He found himself destitute. He was trying to improve his financial situation in Australia. He has written a letter about his remorse and the damage of drugs on society. He carries a lot of shame," Mr Polley said.
Lu's barrister Edwin Whitton said his client was promised $1500 upfront and $150 a day for legal work but received no money.
"Subsequent to his arrival he was not paid what he expected ... He quickly realised the illegality but held out hope for some small financial gain, which he didn't get," Mr Whitton said.
He said Lu's sentence would not trigger mandatory deportation but he was "almost certain" to face removal from Australia under the immigration minister's discretionary powers.
Judge Devereaux told all four defendants they had admitted serious charges related to commercial drug production at a farm with sophisticated irrigation equipment and chemicals.
"You were all obviously living there in simple conditions, basically living in a shed," he said.
Judge Devereaux said he had to impose sentences that would deter others from committing such offences.
"Drugs are the scourge of our society in that they cause immeasurable harm to the community, not only those who use them, but the wider community through criminal and anti-social behaviour," he said.
"Each of you has contributed to the production of drugs."
Vu was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment on the basis he spent the longest period working on the farm.
His sentence was immediately suspended after already spending 358 days in custody.
Do and Pham and Lu were sentenced to two years' imprisonment and their sentences were immediately suspended after already serving 358, 256 and 232 days in custody respectively.
