Drugs factory in city house
The development has been exposed following the arrests of three Vietnamese nationals and the seizure of nearly £60,000 worth of marijuana plants in Plymouth. Senior officers have admitted the seizures and arrests are "a significant development for the South West".
More than a dozen officers forced their way into the rented terrace house in Houndiscombe Road, Mutley, at about 7.45pm on Wednesday. One young man was arrested at the address having initially attempted to flee the scene via a rear window. He remained in custody last night.
The drugs warrant was granted by magistrates following the arrest of two other Vietnamese nationals on Tuesday night after being stopped by traffic police at Mutley Plain. Both men were later arrested on immigration offences and are being quizzed by officers from the Borders and Immigration Agency.
Det Con Mike Bradley, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary's force Drugs Intelligence Officer (DIO), led the raid and was at the scene for most of yesterday as officers carried out forensic examination of the entire two-storey building – which also has a basement – before two box-van loads of equipment and cannabis waste was hauled away.
Nearly 400 cannabis plants – between a few inches and three feet high – were found growing in four rooms of the house.
Det Insp Nick West, from Plymouth police's Intelligence Information Management Unit, oversaw the operation.
He said: "At the moment there is limited intelligence to indicate that this is a trend. However, this is a significant development for the South West.
"The entire house was being used for the wholesale cultivation of cannabis with extensive modifications to the electrical supply and the general structure of the building.
"The DIO estimated the crop yield to be approximately £57,000."
The raid was conducted by officers from the Targeted Policing Team and the Tactical Aid Group.
In 2005, the then head of the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Directorate, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, noted there had been a "growth in hydroponic cultivation plants producing cannabis" committed by Vietnamese crime gangs.
Interpol – the world's largest international police organisation – recognised the Vietnamese gangs were operating in Europe, the USA and Canada.
According to a study by national charity Drugscope the number of cannabis factories in the UK trebled between 2005 and 2007. Analysis of police raids found up to 75 per cent of cannabis farms were allegedly run by Vietnamese gangs.
The Mutley discovery may now indicate that gangs are beginning to target Devon and Cornwall.
Supt John Green, of Plymouth police, said: "In the past we have encountered the Vietnamese only in connection to immigration issues.
"This is the first time, that I have am aware off in this city, that Vietnamese have been arrested in connection to cannabis factories.
"Bearing in mind the national trend it is an issue we will be considering seriously."
Neighbours in the area were amazed at the discovery but were quick to stress the tenants were "genuinely the nicest neighbours you could meet".
One man, who asked not to be named, said he had grown up in the house which originally belonged to his mother before she sold it at auction.
He said: "I used to see them regularly. One guy was really nice, really pleasant. He would always wave, say hello. If he got my post he'd pop round and deliver it.
"It's a bit of a shame really, because they were spot-on people, such nice neighbours – model neighbours in fact."
Another neighbour said he saw the police turn up and "bash the door".
He said: "I ran up and looked out the back window and saw this guy climbing over the wall.
"The power company came along soon afterwards and police were outside the house all night."
A 21-year-old man from Vietnam today appeared before Plymouth Magistrates charged with helping to run a cannabis factory in Mutley.
Van Dang Nguyen pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of a quantity of cannabis, said to be worth £54,000 at the terraced house in Houndiscombe Road.
Nguyen, the court heard, had been brought to Plymouth from London a week ago by a man who he called "The Boss".
He had been told he would be paid to water and feed the hundreds of cannabis plants growing in different rooms in the house by means of an extensive hydroponic set up.
Nguyen was remanded in custody to next appear for sentencing at Plymouth Crown Court on October 24.
