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Wales: Cannabis factory boss in Valleys jailed for eight years
Wales On-line Friday 08 Jun 2012 Duc Vinh Le denied four counts of being concerned in the production of a class B drug from January 1, 2011 to December 10, 2011 but was found guilty on all counts by a jury at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. A count of conspiracy to produce cannabis over the same dates, which he also denied, was ordered to lie on the file. All the jury bar one returned to the court to see 38-year-old Le being sentenced by Judge Richard Twomlow just hours after finding him guilty. During the trial, the court heard that Le, described by one witness as a "mafia type", was the main mover in setting up four cannabis factories in the Snooker Club at Hannah Street, Porth, Ynysfeio Avenue, Treherbert, Davies Street, Porth and Berw Road in Pontypridd. The trial heard that Vietnam-born Le took out tenancy agreements from unsuspecting landlords, signing personally and using false names, in order to rent premises both commercial and residential. The factories had a potential estimated yield of up to £650,000 and police recovered over 780 plants in total each with the potential to produce three crops amassing some 90.23 kilos of strong skunk cannabis. "A typical cannabis crop takes between eight to 10 weeks to mature, making it a very quick turnover," said Ieuan Morris, prosecuting. Le used illegal immigrants from Vietnam as gardeners, who he housed in two other properties, to tend the factories, which were kitted out with sophisticated equipment with high intensity lighting, ducted ventilation and extraction fans. The electricity supply was also bypassed. Mr Morris said: "Letting agents were influenced by the defendant who had the outward appearance of a businessman with charm and affluence. "He invariably provided an advance payment in cash by way of a bond and paid rent in advance either in cash or by direct payment into the letting agent’s account. "He was instrumental in establishing four premises as part of what was a lucrative business." The largest of the factories was housed at Hannah Street, Porth, where his cousin, Daisy Cuc Thi Nguyen occupied the Nail Bar at street level, which he used as a cover. The factory was housed on the second and third floors and Le lived in the flat, where the electricity meter had been bypassed, next to the factory. Le was spotted by officers in May last year unloading a large box containing bags of compost from his car but at that stage the factory was not discovered. In all, 370 plants were recovered from the premises with a potential annual yield of £319,680. David Burgess, defending Le, of Melbourne Court, Nottingham, said: "It remains the case, I suspect, that wherever he fits into the scheme of things there were undoubtedly others who were above him. It is likely there were other more malign forces behind the scenes controlling what he was doing. "The deception of him as an elusive, shifty character may have been true but it was not such an accomplished performance that he did not leave a trail even a blind man could follow." Jailing Le, Judge Twomlow told him: "I consider that you played a leading role. On the evidence the court heard you were the active person setting up each of the premises and creating all sorts of deceptions giving people false names. "You were a front runner, if not the only runner, in the South Wales organisation. "This may have been the South Wales branch of a greater enterprise altogether but you played a leading role in it. "You weaved a web of deception that you hoped would defy the hands of justice if caught and your final act of deception was to the jury when you lied and lied in the witness box." Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/06/08/cannabis-factory-boss-in-valleys-jailed-for-eight-years-91466-31136109/#ixzz1xC72Cc7h
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