Tham Nguyen and Thang Chinh Hoang jailed for cannabis offences

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Tham Nguyen was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, and Thang Chinh Hoang to two years and nine months, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 18 October 2018.

The men pleaded guilty to possessing and cultivating cannabis. The offences were dated 24 January 2017. The proceedings were reported on 18 October 2018.

Garda Joe McBride said gardaí found €60,000 of cultivated cannabis and 2,065 plants at various stages of growth. The men had been living in a grow house at Belcamp Lane, Coolock, Dublin. McBride said the potential value of €1.6 million was theoretical, based on all the plants reaching full maturity.

Judge Karen O'Connor said the case was difficult because both men were vulnerable and had been preyed upon to take part in the operation. She accepted that they were at its lowest level and gave credit for their early pleas and cooperation.

Nguyen’s sentence reflected significant health difficulties, including cancer. Hoang had no previous convictions, while Nguyen had one previous conviction for another cannabis offence.