Tung Nguyen, 45, denied producing and supplying 17kg of cannabis in Sunderland.
A man accused of being caught with 17 kilograms of cannabis in Sunderland has been remanded into custody after appearing before magistrates.
Tung Nguyen, 45, stood in the dock at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday 1 September, where prosecutors alleged he was discovered with a substantial quantity of the class B drug. The cannabis was said to have been found at a property in Withernsea Grove, Ryhope Colliery, on Friday 29 August.
Court officials confirmed that Nguyen, who has no fixed abode, relied on a Vietnamese interpreter during the brief hearing. He faced charges of producing cannabis and possessing the drug with intent to supply.
Nguyen pleaded not guilty to both allegations.
Embed from Getty ImagesNeither prosecutor Lauren Fisher nor defence solicitor Annalisa Moscardini offered representations during the session.
District Judge Zoe Passfield told the court that the case could not be dealt with at magistrates’ level because of its seriousness. She declined jurisdiction and committed Nguyen for trial at Newcastle Crown Court.
Judge Passfield then ordered that Nguyen be remanded into custody until his next appearance. He is expected to face a first hearing at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday 29 September.
The case has raised attention because of the sheer weight of cannabis involved. Prosecutors claim the 17 kilograms seized represent a significant quantity well beyond personal use. Such amounts typically suggest distribution or involvement in wider drug networks, which is why the matter has been escalated to the crown court.
At this stage, Nguyen maintains his innocence, insisting through his not guilty pleas that he did not produce the cannabis nor intend to supply it. If convicted, he could face a lengthy custodial sentence, with the sentencing guidelines for possession with intent to supply class B drugs allowing for substantial penalties depending on the scale of operation and involvement.
During the hearing, Nguyen spoke only with the assistance of the interpreter, confirming his name, age, and plea. The brevity of the proceedings underlined the gravity of the allegations, which fall outside the sentencing powers of a magistrates’ court.
Police investigations into the seizure remain ongoing, though no additional details about the discovery of the cannabis or any potential links to others were presented during this initial stage.
Cases of cannabis production and supply continue to draw attention in Sunderland and the wider North East. Law enforcement agencies have regularly highlighted the scale of organised activity around cultivation, with properties often being repurposed for large-scale drug production.
The court heard no further evidence about how the cannabis was allegedly recovered, but the reported 17-kilogram figure makes it one of the more substantial seizures locally this year.
Nguyen will remain in custody until his crown court appearance later this month, where prosecutors are expected to outline the evidence against him in full. The outcome of that hearing will determine whether a trial date is set.
For now, the case stands as a reminder of the severity with which courts treat large-scale drug allegations and the strict procedures followed when significant quantities are involved.