A Vietnamese national accused of crashing a van carrying 38 kilograms of cannabis near Wangoom on Monday intends fighting the police charges.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Trung Nguyen, 32, of Melbourne’s Cairnlea, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with trafficking and drug-related offences.
Police allege a van was located after a single-vehicle accident on the Hopkins Falls Road, near Adams Road east of Wangoom, at 12.45am Monday.
The driver was not injured and picked up by another motorist.
The cause of the accident is not known. The van was seized and forensically analysed.
Police located 38-kilograms of cannabis, 97 rubbish bags filled with potting mix and stems, 62 high powered light bulbs and fertilizer.
Lawyer George Balot, of Balot Reilly Solicitors, said Mr Nguyen came before the court in “extraordinary circumstances”.
He said police alleged Mr Nguyen returned to collect the van and was subsequently arrested.
He said Mr Nguyen planned to contest the allegations.
“I am yet to hear a case like this,” Mr Balot said.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
I am yet to hear a case like this.
- Lawyer George Balot