Jail over cannabis farm network

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Twelve Vietnamese nationals who ran eight cannabis farms across north Wales have been jailed for a total of 32 years.

Mold Crown Court heard the plants had a street value of £76,000, with a potential profit of £3.5m.

Most of the defendants had been ensnared by criminal gangs who brought them illegally into the UK.

The court was told insurance companies had paid out £102,920 to the property owners to repair damage caused.

Houses 'wrecked'

Prosecutor Elen Owen said the case involved the production of cannabis at various addresses in Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy and Flintshire.

"The houses were all rented from private landlords with no idea of the purpose to which their property was being put," she said.

The houses were wrecked as each room was turned into growing areas with ventilation shafts coming in through the ceilings, and electricity and water supplies were installed, she added.

The farms were across north Wales

The court heard the brains behind the idea of flooding north Wales with cannabis had not been caught, but three of the defendants were said to be managers or controllers of the operation.

Most of the dozen defendants were illegal immigrants who had paid to enter the UK on the promise of a better life.

Once here however they were ensnared by the criminal gangs who brought them to the UK to work in the cannabis factories to pay off their "debts".

Some, who spoke no English, remained in the houses tending the plants, rarely going out, and were simply given food and a roof over their heads. the court was told.

Judge John Rogers QC said that substantial prison sentences were needed to punish and deter others.

He described it as "a very large and sophisticated enterprise".

Hoan Tran, 24, and her partner Doah Thai, 28, of Rhyl, and another woman Huong Mai Pham, 24, of no fixed address were told by Judge John Rogers QC that he was satisfied they had played substantial roles in the conspiracy having rented the properties.

Each received four and a half years imprisonment.

Pham's partner, Thuong Tran, 31, of no fixed abode, received three years, for his part as a gardener and driver. All four admitted conspiracy.

Separate hearing

Thuy Nguyen, 28, of no fixed abode admitted two production charges.

A boy of 16 received a four month detention and training order for tending the plants.

At a separate hearing a further six defendants were jailed after the judge told them they were either gardeners, runners or delivery drivers.

Luong Manh, 37, Ha Tran, 34, and Khai Vuong, 33, off of Rhosesmor near Mold, admitted conspiracy and got two years each.

Duy Thai, 33, from Rhyl, and Thai Trang, 37, of no fixed abode, each received two years for production, and Quy Le, 19, from Rhyl received 20 months youth detention.

The judge ordered that all property seized during the operation - including a large number of vehicles and computer equipment, should be used to compensate the insurance companies which had paid for repair to the property owners.

The properties used included houses in Valley, Holyhead, Llangefni, Llandegfan and Llanddaniel on Anglesey and Prestatyn and Bontnewydd in Denbighshire.