A Whangarei District Court jury found Oai Duc Truong guilty of running three commercial cannabis plantations with a reported estimated annual street value of $24 million, after deliberating less than three hours.[1][2] The convictions covered three counts of possession of cannabis for supply, three counts of cultivation and one count of perverting the course of justice.[1][2] Truong was remanded in custody for sentencing by Judge John McDonald at a later date.[1][2]

Police discovered the three grow sites in Te Kopuru, Kerikeri and Massey in 2020 using advanced light manipulation, diverted power, a mother plant for cuttings and a reticulated water system.[1][2] At Te Kopuru in January 2020 police seized more than 6,000 plants in five greenhouses and 1,000 pounds (about 454 kilograms) of cannabis as four men fled in a four-wheel-drive.[1][2] Truong claimed he thought two men named David and Lee were growing blueberries and that he only fetched supplies, translated and rented cars, but leases, car rentals, invoices and supplier accounts tied him to all three sites.[1][2] After learning police were closing in, he pressed a horticulture supplier for an exonerating letter and smuggled a phone into the cells.[1]