{
  "id": 8848065,
  "title": "Two jailed in Victoria over cannabis haul worth over $22 million",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/two-jailed-in-victoria-over-cannabis-haul-worth-over-22-million",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T05:07:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-21/men-sentenced-toolamba-cannabis-crop-vic-court/107176642"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two men from Vietnam, Duy Duc Dao and Quoc Van Tran, have been sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in jail each for their role in a massive cannabis cultivation operation in Victoria, Australia. The drug haul, weighing 5.1 tonnes, was the largest ever seized by Victoria Police, setting a state record. The pair were found guilty of cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis. Three others involved in the operation have skipped bail and are still at large. The operation, which took place in Toolamba, on the outskirts of Shepparton, involved two large greenhouses capable of growing 8,805 cannabis plants. The court heard that the pandemic had contributed to the men's decision to turn to horticulture for financial gain, but that they made no effort to leave once the true purpose of the operation became apparent.",
  "summary": "The duo have been sentenced to more than 12 years behind bars for cultivating Victoria's largest illegal hydroponic cannabis crop.",
  "key_points": [
    "Two Vietnamese men sentenced to 12.5 years each for cannabis operation.",
    "Largest cannabis haul seized by Victoria Police, 5.1 tonnes.",
    "Three others involved in operation have fled to avoid arrest."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}