Another big drugs find
POLICE have raided another cannabis factory hidden in a West Norfolk property – the third in just three weeks.
Thousands of pounds worth of the illegal drug has been uncovered in a series of raids both in rural communities and in the heart of Lynn.
The latest operation saw a large-scale factory found in Tilney St Lawrence yesterday, at an address in School Road.
More than 400 cannabis plants worth several thousand pounds were found inside by officers during the raid which was sparked by intelligence they had received.
A 33-year-old Vietnamese national has been arrested on suspicion of the production of cannabis and yesterday afternoon was being questioned by officers after being taken into custody at Lynn police station.
Police uncovered another factory in the heart of South Lynn just last Wednesday when they raided a house in Beloe Crescent.
More than 300 cannabis plants worth several thousands of pounds were found inside and recovered by officers.
A Vietnamese man was arrested at the property at Beloe Crescent and charged with the production of cannabis.
He appeared at Lynn magistrates last Thursday and the case will go to crown court for trial.
Ten days earlier another drugs factory was found in Chalk Road, Walpole St Andrew, following the outbreak of a fire.
When emergency services arrived it became clear what the property had been used for.
Police later confirmed the house had been used to cultivate cannabis, but the exact quantity involved and its possible street value was unknown.
Detective Sergeant Warren Witt told the Lynn News: "The Constabulary remains committed to the task of driving drug dealers out of our local communities and improving the quality of life for local residents and this operation has been another step forward for us.
"However, our work does not stop there – people dealing in the production of or dealing in drugs can be assured that we will continue to track them down – illegal drugs activity will not be tolerated in Norfolk."
TRIAL ENDS
Lynn Crown Court yesterday saw the end of a ten-week trial following the discovery of cannabis factories in Lynn, Norwich and London, two years ago.
The operation was the biggest money laundering investigation ever carried out by Norfolk police.
Three Vietnamese people were yesterday unanimously cleared on all counts by the jury, which had been considering its verdict for almost five days.
Two other Vietnamese defendants, Luan Van Phan (42) and Hoang Hoi Dao (53), were found guilty of obtaining money transfers by deception to buy The Laurels in Ferry Road, West Lynn, and a London property, respectively.
Phan, from Wymondham, was also found guilty of conspiring to launder criminal property and Dao, of no fixed address, of conspiring to produce cannabis, a controlled class C drug.
Phan and Dao were remanded in custody to appear for sentence at Norwich Crown Court on Thursday, January 8.
Mai Anh Trinh (21), from London, and Agieng Nung (51) and Mr Thi Cam Van Vu (32), both from Wymondham, were found not guilty of conspiring to produce cannabis and conspiring to launder criminal property.
Ms Trinh was also found not guilty of being concerned in the unlawful production of cannabis and of obtaining a money transfer by deception in connection with buying The Lodge, a bungalow in Crossbank Road, North Lynn, which was converted for intensive production of cannabis, the court heard.
Mr Nung was cleared of a further offence of obtaining a money transfer by deception to buy a property in Norwich.
All five had earlier been cleared of conspiring to launder the proceeds of crime or drug trafficking on the directions of the judge.
Another four defendants had earlier admitted their part in the crime.
Phuong Thi Kim Nguyen (33), of West Lynn, Bich Nga Le (42), of Camberwell, London, Ngoc Anh Dao (25), of Edgeware, London, Jean Yve Nicolas Ephigene (28), also of Edgeware.They will all be sentenced on January 8.
Thanking jury members for their "patience" during the trial, Judge Philip Curl said: "I'm afraid it continued much longer than you or I anticipated and I am sure your lives have been disrupted to some extent."
He said ten weeks was "an unusual length" to be sitting on one case and excused them from jury service for the next 15 years.
After the case, Ms Trinh said she was "very happy" to have been acquitted on all counts.
Ends.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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