A wanted man was caught fleeing a wildfire with trucks allegedly full of cannabis in Australia.
Tien Tran, 36, had been on the run since DNA allegedly linked him to a 3000-plant cannabis crop discovered by police in South Australia in 2021.
His arrest with Anh Mai, 37, in a truck on Christmas Eve led police to find cannabis growing supplies, keys to another truck and keys to an alleged growhouse near Moyston, Victoria, police claim.
Nearby they discovered two abandoned trucks with 203 mature cannabis plants, weighing more than 250kg, news.com.au reported.
They found a ‘sophisticated hydroponic system’ at the alleged growhouse.
Police had been called after a resident saw multiple trucks leave the Moyston property.
Thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate an ‘uncontrollable’ bushfire, started by lightning, that burnt through 760 square kilometres around Grampians National Park.
Mr Tran, who works as a gardener and landscaper, claims he was driving the truck at his friend’s request.
All three had been rented in Melbourne on the same day, by Mr Tran, Mr Mai, and a third man, police said.
Mr Tran denies the charge of being involved in cultivating cannabis crops.
His lawyer, Richard Revill, told the court: ‘He’s the gofer, he’s the deliveryman, he’s the handyman — its how he supports himself.
‘The evidence is indicative of a low level participant; a foot soldier.’
Mr Tran was denied bail and will appear back in court along with Mr Mai in April.
Magistrate Costas Kilias told Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Thursday: ‘These charges are too serious for bail to be granted, putting it another way I’m not satisfied he has established exceptional circumstances,.
‘There’s only one way at this stage to ensure his attendance at court … bail is refused.’
Mr Tran has been wanted as a suspect since DNA allegedly linked him to receipts, invoices and ledgers seized during the 2021 bust.
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