Two men have been charged with cultivating commercial quantities of cannabis after they were found with more than 82 kilograms of the drug in their car.
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Dung Tran, 36, and Hoan Nguyen, 36, faced the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday via video link from custody.
Nguyen, charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis, trafficking and possessing cannabis, did not apply for bail.
The court heard Nguyen will remain in custody until his case resolves as he was in Australia 'illegally'.
His co-accused Tran, who is a permanent Australian resident, did apply for bail.
Police informant Detective Sergeant Daniel York said Moorabool Crime Investigation Unit began investigating a Bacchus Marsh home in August after witnesses reported unusual behaviour and it was established power was not connected to the property.
My concerns are based on the fact we believe there is a bigger organisation around this type of set up
- Detective Sergeant Daniel York
The court heard a witness contacted the informant on Monday afternoon reporting two men leaving the property in a car that had been parked in the garage for about two hours.
Police intercepted the car driven by Nguyen at Deer Park and allegedly found 82.5 kg cannabis in at least six large bags in the car.
Detective Sergeant York said Tran was allegedly in possession of keys to the Bacchus Marsh property, the garage remote, $300 cash and a receipt dated 8 September for the purchase of the car they were driving.
Tran and Nguyen were arrested and taken to the Bacchus Marsh Police Station where they made no comment interviews.
The court heard police executed a search warrant at the property and allegedly found a hydroponic set up with cannabis plants and bags of cuttings and stems strewn throughout the home indicating plants had recently been harvested.
An electrical bypass was in operation.
Detective Sergeant York said police seized 89 cannabis plants and items used as part of the hydroponic growing process.
"My concerns are based on the fact we believe there is a bigger organisation around this type of set up," he said.
"We are unable to identify associates at this stage. My concern is he may fail to answer bail based on if this was part of a larger operation."
Detective Sergeant York said the investigation would continue with the analysis of phone records, forensic analysis of items found at the house and statements from witnesses.
Defence lawyer Ms Tye said there were deficiencies in the prosecution case as it could not be proven Tran was at the Bacchus Marsh address.
The court heard Tran had no prior criminal history and a stable address available with his wife and children.
Ms Tye said Tran's wife had offered a $10,000 surety from their savings.
Magistrate Ron Saines said it was true the prosecution case was incomplete as there was little evidence Tran was cultivating cannabis, however, it was a strong case that Tran was in possession of more than 80 kg of cannabis.
He said a prison sentence was highly probable if Tran was found guilty of trafficking this quantity.
Mr Saines said he was not satisfied the exceptional circumstances test to justify bail had been met and refused bail.
Tran and Nguyen will remain in custody and return to court for a committal mention on December 10.
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