Two Vietnamese men caught looking after a huge cannabis farm in Cumbernauld claimed they were only cleaners. Police seized 363 plants and 8kg of dried cannabis when they raided two adjoining flats in Glen Moriston Road in the town's Craigmarloch area. The haul was valued at £248,000.
Court Appearance
Duong Dung, 33, Phuoc Haa Nguyen, 28, and 43-year-old Son Van Le appeared from custody at Airdrie Sheriff Court this week. They admitted producing cannabis and being concerned in supplying the drug on August 19 last year.
Police Investigation
Annette Ward, prosecuting, told the court that police were called after the tenants of the top-floor flats refused to let the landlord carry out an inspection. She said: "There was a suspicion that cannabis was being cultivated in the properties." Search warrants were obtained, and the landlord gave police the keys to the flats.
"Officers gained access and detained Duong who was alone in one of the flats. He was in possession of two mobile phones. The other men were detained in the second flat. They were also carrying mobile phones which were seized."
Grow Operation Details
Police found that the loft of each flat had been converted into a growing area with between 80 and 100 plants in each. "There were also lights, heaters and fans. In one flat there was a room where several kilogrammes of cannabis bud were drying out."
Defendants' Statements
When interviewed, Dung said he had just arrived and had done nothing. The other two men said they knew nothing about cannabis and were only there to clean. However, Ms Ward noted that Nguyen's fingerprints were found on a tub containing green herbal material.
The cannabis plants were worth up to £217,800, while the dried cannabis had an estimated value of £30,400.
Sentencing Deferred
Sheriff Derek Livingston deferred sentence until next month for background reports and remanded all three accused in custody. The sheriff was told that the Crown will liaise with the Home Office on the issue of deporting the trio.
