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.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
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.
Australian Associated Press
