MOTHER NAMED AS HEROIN KINGPIN

A 52-year-old mother from Pennington was the "kingpin" of a sophisticated
network of couriers smuggling heroin into South Australia, the Adelaide
Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

Tuyet Thi Ngo was charged with conspiracy to sell heroin and possessing
heroin for sale following a series of simultaneous raids around Adelaide on
Monday.

Standing next to Ngo in the dock was her daughter, Oanh Thi Kim Pham, 28,
of Woodville North, who has also been charged with conspiracy.

Five other people charged after the raids have been granted police bail and
will appear in court at a later date.

Yesterday, prosecutor Mr Simon Smart told the court police had intercepted
4000 to 5000 phone calls that indicated the alleged heroin ring was
well-established.

"It's alleged this woman is pivotal to an extensive heroin importation
operation.. (involving) the transportation and sale of commercial
quantities of heroin from New South Wales and Victoria to South Australia,"
Mr Smart said.

He said couriers were employed to transport the narcotic.

"She (Ngo) is central to the organisation, she's the kingpin, the top of
the tree in South Australia," Mr Smart said.

About 15 ounces of heroin, with a street value of about $350,000, were
allegedly seized in the raids.

The court heard one ounce of heroin had allegedly been found in Ngo's
washing machine.

Mr Smart described Ngo as the centre of a wheel, with the other alleged
offenders as the spokes.

Mr Stephen Ey, for Ngo, said she had no prior convictions after living in
Australia for 14 years, and denied all the allegations.

Pham was granted $3000 bail, but her guarantors were unable to come up with
the cash surety so last night she remained in custody.

Magistrate Mr David Swain remanded Ngo in custody until Friday, pending the
preparation of a home detention assessment report.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski