How Smugglers Allegedly Brought 600 Pounds of Marijuana from Canada to Medford

A federal affidavit reveals the sophistication and experience of an alleged drug smuggling ring that authorities say delivered drugs over the border from Canada to New York, then to a man in Medford.

Between 2009 and 2010, the conspiracy was responsible for smuggling about 1600 kilograms of cocaine, 600 pounds of marijuana and $5 million in cash into the U.S., the affidavit said.

Medford's Huy Hoang Nguyen -- known to his accomplices as "Boston" -- was arrested in connection to the ring in January after allegedly arranging to receive two 300-pound shipments of marijuana, according to the affidavit. And it wasn't the first time he had been implicated with a large-scale drug deal over the Canadian border.

Nguyen, 40, of 19 Earl Avenue was sentenced to six months in federal prison in 2005 after he brought $309,000 to a marijuana purchase that was set up by DEA agents in Vermont, court documents show.

The most recent scheme involving Nguyen was broken up in May 2011, when two individuals involved were arrested and agreed to cooperate with authorities in building a case against Nguyen, according to the affidavit.

On two occasions, Nguyen arranged to have a tractor trailer loaded with 300 pounds of marijuana in a secret compartment travel across the border in Lewiston, NY -- just north of Niagara Falls --and eventually to Medford, the affidavit said.

The marijuana was stowed in vaccum-packed bags hidden in a false floor that spanned the entire trailer, the affidavit said. The trucks were registered to Parminder Sindhu, a Canadian man who also faces charges in New York, the affidavit said.

Phone records show Nguyen was in frequent contact with the other members of the conspiracy, with his calls utilizing phone towers in Medford and Malden, the affidavit said.

The charges were brought forward in November, but it wasn't until January when he was indicted by a grand jury that Nguyen was arrested, according to court records. Huong was released on $100,000 cash and $200,000 bond bail in February, but is confined to his home as a condition of bail, according to court papers.

He was offered an plea deal by prosecutors and last week asked for a delay in pre-trial proceedings as he considers whether to take it, according to one court filing.