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| More cannabis farm arrests likely | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police hope to arrest and charge more suspects after a gang of 12 Vietnamese nationals who ran eight cannabis farms across north Wales were jailed. | Police hope to arrest and charge more suspects after a gang of 12 Vietnamese nationals who ran eight cannabis farms across north Wales were jailed. |
| The defendants were jailed for a total of 32 years on Monday after Mold Crown Court heard that the potential profit from the plants was £3.5m. | |
| Most of the defendants had been ensnared by criminal gangs who brought them illegally into the UK. | Most of the defendants had been ensnared by criminal gangs who brought them illegally into the UK. |
| North Wales Police said the gang was "sophisticated and highly organised". | North Wales Police said the gang was "sophisticated and highly organised". |
| Det Sgt Anthony Harvey said the sentences were the culmination of investigations lasting three months. | Det Sgt Anthony Harvey said the sentences were the culmination of investigations lasting three months. |
| Further enquiries are ongoing to arrest and charge others connected with this investigation Det Sgt Anthony Harvey | Further enquiries are ongoing to arrest and charge others connected with this investigation Det Sgt Anthony Harvey |
| He added: "This operation has dismantled what was clearly a sophisticated and highly organised crime group which covered all three policing divisions within north Wales and had established nationwide links. | He added: "This operation has dismantled what was clearly a sophisticated and highly organised crime group which covered all three policing divisions within north Wales and had established nationwide links. |
| "Nationally the problem of sophisticated criminal networks controlling professionally run cannabis factories is being treated as a priority, and with this result today North Wales Police hopes to send out a message that as a force we take it extremely seriously. | "Nationally the problem of sophisticated criminal networks controlling professionally run cannabis factories is being treated as a priority, and with this result today North Wales Police hopes to send out a message that as a force we take it extremely seriously. |
| "The impact this type of offence has is huge, with severe fire risks being posed at the factory sites, and private landlords being faced with repair bills of tens of thousands of pounds. | "The impact this type of offence has is huge, with severe fire risks being posed at the factory sites, and private landlords being faced with repair bills of tens of thousands of pounds. |
| "Further inquiries are ongoing to arrest and charge others connected with this investigation." | |
| Rented houses | Rented houses |
| The court heard how the case involved the production of cannabis at various addresses in Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy and Flintshire. | The court heard how the case involved the production of cannabis at various addresses in Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy and Flintshire. |
| Insurance companies had paid out £102,920 to the property owners to repair damage caused. | Insurance companies had paid out £102,920 to the property owners to repair damage caused. |
| Prosecutor Elen Owen said: "The houses were all rented from private landlords with no idea of the purpose to which their property was being put." | Prosecutor Elen Owen said: "The houses were all rented from private landlords with no idea of the purpose to which their property was being put." |
| 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 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. |
| This cannabis was found at a house in Llangefni on Anglesey | This cannabis was found at a house in Llangefni on Anglesey |
| 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. |
| 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 the judge that he was satisfied they had played substantial roles in the conspiracy having rented the properties. | 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 the judge that he was satisfied they had played substantial roles in the conspiracy having rented the properties. |
| Each received four-and-a-half years' imprisonment. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Judge John Rogers QC ordered that all property seized during the operation should be used to compensate the insurance companies which had paid for repair to the property owners. | Judge John Rogers QC ordered that all property seized during the operation 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. | The properties used included houses in Valley, Holyhead, Llangefni, Llandegfan and Llanddaniel on Anglesey and Prestatyn and Bontnewydd in Denbighshire. |