HEROIN ACCUSED IN DOCK

A SYDNEY restaurateur wanted for almost two years over his alleged
involvement in a 78kg heroin haul - one of the country's largest - was
remanded in custody yesterday after a brief court appearance.

Duncan Sak Cheung Lam, 44, was arrested on Monday night and charged with
being knowingly concerned with importing a prohibited import - heroin.

The importation is alleged to have occurred in 1997, when the drug was
smuggled into Australia concealed in pineapple tins. At the time, it was
the biggest haul NSW had ever seen.

Lam also was charged by the Australian Federal Police with conspiring with
four others to supply 15kg of heroin between May last year and February
this year.

Lam, flanked by a team of Corrective Services officers, was before Sydney's
Central Local Court for just minutes and did not apply for bail.

Two of his alleged co-offenders in the most recent matter were also
arrested on Monday night by the National Crime Authority - three men in
North Sydney and a woman in Melbourne. Ting Man Ngai, 25, and 36-year-old
Anthony Hau Khuan Phu faced Burwood Local Court in Sydney yesterday on
charges of conspiring to supply a large commercial quantity of heroin and
with supplying the same. Neither applied for bail.

Kim Loan Nguyen, 24, was arrested in Melbourne and charged with conspiring
with Lam, Ngai and Phu to supply a commercial quantity of heroin. She was
granted $100,000 bail, but it was believed she was unable to raise the money.

Lawson Chung, 29, charged with possessing a prohibited article and
possessing a prohibited weapon, was granted police bail. Lam and his
alleged accomplices will reappear in Central Local Court later this month.