Jason Yuen, who paid at least $227,000 for drugs in a less than two-month stint trafficking ice, cocaine and cannabis, had worked at his parents' Chinese restaurant and lived at home during his offending.

The 26-year-old was arrested in December after police swooped as part of Operation Rhodonite, which resulted in the seizure of more than $100,000 cash, $26,000 worth of gold bullion and six luxury cars.

Police allege the 25 people arrested had been involved in trafficking drugs in Melbourne's south-east and regional Victoria.

Yuen pleaded guilty to trafficking a commercial quantity of methamphetamine and to trafficking cannabis and cocaine.

Judge Howard Mason said in the County Court on Wednesday that the amount of ice seized fell just short of the charge of trafficking a large commercial quantity, which is punishable by life in prison.

"What I'm concerned about is the very quick descent into such serious duty offending on a sustained and quite clinical level," Judge Mason said.

"That is a factor that worries me about how excellent the prospects of rehabilitation are."

Yuen had been winning between $6000 and $10,000 a week playing poker at the casino. Other "high rollers" introduced Yuen to baccarat, Judge Mason said, and Yuen then lost $100,000 in a week.

Yuen consumed ice after it was recommended by a fellow gambler, and found it allowed him to play for longer.

But Judge Mason said Yuen was never addicted to drugs or gambling, and started trafficking to pay his debts.

Judge Mason said poker had became a "passion" for Yuen, and because he was successful he was exposed to the casino's "heady environment of teak and mahogany rooms".

Yuen purchased cocaine, cannabis and cocaine, which was distributed to lower-level traffickers to sell. His offending started on October 29 and finished when he was arrested on December 18.

Judge Mason said that although Yuen was intelligent, and had been educated at a private school, he had failed to complete several courses and his mother described him as a "naive little adolescent".

Judge Mason agreed, saying the offending was due to a lack of maturity and a "young man's foolishness".
"It was about making a lot of quick money," he said. "You took the risk."

Yuen was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment, with a minimum of two years and eight months. He has already served 317 days.