Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
National
Gus McCubbing

Sydney coke importer jailed for 10 years

A Sydney man who tried to import more than $9 million worth of cocaine from the US has been jailed. (AAP)

A Sydney man who attempted to import more than $9 million worth of cocaine from America in car audio equipment has been jailed for at least 10 years.

Van Dung Le, 33, on Tuesday faced Victoria's County Court, where he was sentenced to a total of 15 years and six months in prison.

Le had pleaded guilty to conspiring to import 15.94 kilograms of cocaine, worth $9.4 million, to Melbourne in February 2019.

Judge Claire Quin said Le's motivation was "clearly financial gain" and that he played a substantial role in the drug importation.

American authorities allegedly found the cocaine alongside 1.2 tonnes of methamphetamine and 3.73 kilograms of heroin, before repackaging and reloading the lot for their Australian counterparts to monitor.

Police at the time said it marked the largest ever seizure of ice bound for Australia, as well as the largest ever meth bust in the US.

Le, from Hinchinbrook, in Sydney's southwest, also pleaded guilty to handling the proceeds of crime worth more than $145,000 and trafficking 356 grams of cocaine.

He will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years in prison.

Le's co-accused, 28-year-old Chi Chong Vu, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the trafficking of cocaine.

Vu was released on a recognisance order after serving 471 days in custody.

Judge Quin said he had a limited, one-day role in the offending.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.