Van Tho Nguyen Sentenced To 13 Years For Conspiring To Traffic 3.8 Kg Of Heroin

5 February 2010

Van Tho Nguyen Sentenced to 13 Years for Conspiring to Traffic 3.8 kg of
Heroin and Laundering $3.6 Million

A key principal of a multi-state money laundering and drug trafficking enterprise, Mr Van Tho Nguyen was today sentenced to 13 years and six months imprisonment with a minimum nonparole period of nine years, as part of Australia's largest money laundering investigation Operation Gordian Katakan.

Mr Nguyen was convicted in the New South Wales District Court for conspiring to traffic 3.8 kilograms of heroin and laundering $3.6 million.

Evidence gathered by the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) indicated Mr Nguyen played a key role in trafficking heroin and illicit funds between groups in Sydney and Melbourne.

ACC Chief Executive Officer John Lawler said today's sentence demonstrates what can be achieved when law enforcement and government work together to stop illicit money flows and reduce the impact of illicit drugs on our streets.

"Laundering illicit funds offshore places a significant burden on the Australian community, as does the damage narcotics inflicts on families and the negative impacts on our healthcare system.

"It is important to note the recent serious and organised crime legislation amendments1 will greatly assist cases such as these in the future," Mr Lawler said.

Task Force Gordian was established by the ACC Board from May 2005 to June 2007 to combat serious money laundering and tax fraud, and involves the ACC, Australian Federal Police, AUSTRAC, Australian Taxation Office, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Victoria Police, New South Wales Police Force and the New South Wales Crime Commission.

"Money laundering is at the very heart of serious and organised crime and it is critical that we continue to work together to target and dismantle those crime syndicates that pose the highest threat to the community," Mr Lawler said.

"Each agency involved in Task Force Gordian has contributed their specialised capabilities and resources. Collectively we have disrupted a significant criminal enterprise, with 73 persons charged and in excess of 50 convicted with money laundering and serious drug offences, including the eight previously sentenced for conspiring to launder up to $68 million of narcotics-related proceeds of crime."

The ACC estimates that over $6 billion in illicit funds leaves Australia each year, with organised crime estimated to cost the Australian community between $10 and $15 billion each year.

For more information about the ACC and Task Force Gordian visit www.crimecommission.gov.au

1 Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Bill 2009 and the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Bill (No. 2) 2009.

Communications and Media Unit
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SOURCE: Australian Crime Commission