Thang Quoc Bui, 48, from the Melbourne suburb of Springvale, unsuccessfully applied for bail in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.
Mr Bui is charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis, trafficking a commercial quantity of cannabis, possessing cannabis and theft of power.
Shepparton Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Anthony De Cicco told the court police found 269 cannabis plants, weighing about 180kg, at a house on Marungi St, Shepparton on Wednesday, November 26.
He said there was a “sophisticated hydroponic cannabis setup” inside the garage and every bedroom.
The court heard police also found two electrical bypasses, one on the outside of the packing shed and one inside the house.
Det Sen Constable De Cicco said Mr Bui was present at the address with keys to the house when police searched the property.
He said traffic cameras captured a car registered in Mr Bui’s wife’s name travelling to and from Shepparton eight times between November 2 and the day before his arrest.
Det Sen Constable De Cicco told the court police believed Mr Bui was living in the crop house, due to there being a single bed in the entryway of the house.
He also told the court there were notifications on Mr Bui’s phone for CCTV cameras that were present at the Marungi St address.
Det Sen Constable De Cicco said police believed that if released, Mr Bui would return to cultivating cannabis, as he could “owe a debt to a drug cultivating syndicate” that employed him.
Mr Bui’s defence barrister William Barker said there were triable issues in the prosecution’s case, and noted there was a delay regarding DNA analysis.
Mr Barker told the court his client was on a bridging visa, and Mr Bui’s wife was willing to pay surety and surrender both of their passports if granted bail.
He told the court his client had no prior convictions, stable accommodation and an employment offer waiting for him.
However, Det Sen Constable De Cicco said when he made inquiries about the job offer, the employer said he’d been “told to give him a job”.
Det Sen Constable De Cicco also noted the address Mr Bui would be bailed to was the same address he was residing in while the alleged offending was happening.
In refusing bail, magistrate Amina Bhai noted the importance of maximising community safety.
She said although parts of the prosecution case were circumstantial, it wasn’t weak.
Ms Bhai acknowledged Mr Bui had stable accommodation and an employment offer; however, said she had questions about the genuineness of the offer.
Mr Bui will next face court in March 2026 for a committal mention.
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