Sticky's_Queen
04-07-2008, 07:40 PM
In a week which has seen cannabis in the news again, the question remains as to where all the "gardeners", illegal aliens for the most part, are actually coming from?
It turns out that in a lot of instances, the government are actually paying for them to come to the UK, and then abandoning them to make their own way, as was the case of a Vietnamese man, Mr Lap Tran, who was brought to this country as a witness to a people-trafficking ring, but then who somehow ended up with no-where to stay and no money.
A Vietnamese man brought to England as a witness in a people trafficking trial ended up working in a cannabis factory.
When police raided 3 Acregate Lane, Ribbleton, Preston, last October they discovered 400 plants in the basement and bedroom.
The haul would have produced deals for the strongest skunk type of cannabis worth £12,000 on the streets.
Lap Tran, 36, had been brought to the UK by the Crown Prosecution Service as a witness in the people trafficking trial.
Lap Tran came to the UK on a ticket paid for by the CPS.
Tran stayed on in the UK and although his status is still not certain, is probably an illegal immigrant, the court heard.
Andrew Alty, prosecuting, told the court that Tran was the father of a child born in this country with a Vietnamese mother, but at the time he arrived in Preston he was virtually penniless and vulnerable.
Pressure was placed on him by others who had set-up the cannabis factory in the city.
Mr Alty said: "He was put in a difficult position – what he was doing was tending to the plants, switching lights on and off."
Tran pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis and was jailed for two years.
Judge Christopher Cornwall said he was recommending to the Home Secretary that Tran is deported back to Vietnam at the end of his sentence.
The judge told Tran he had previous convictions in this country for possession of drugs, handling and theft.
Judge Cornwall said there had to be a deterrent sentence despite his personal circumstances, because he had allowed himself to be involved in the production of the most harmful cannabis finding its way on to the streets.
A young co-defendant has also admitted the conspiracy charge, but the court was told it remains a mystery as to her true age.
She was also arrested at Acregate Lane with the latest medical report stating she could be nearly 16 or approaching 18. She will be sentenced later this month.
Kirsten McEnteer, prsoecuting, said the plants found at Acregate Lane were being grown using a sophisticated hydroponics system and as soon as police entered the premises there was a strong smell of cannabis.
Tran told officers he had nowhere to stay.
It turns out that in a lot of instances, the government are actually paying for them to come to the UK, and then abandoning them to make their own way, as was the case of a Vietnamese man, Mr Lap Tran, who was brought to this country as a witness to a people-trafficking ring, but then who somehow ended up with no-where to stay and no money.
A Vietnamese man brought to England as a witness in a people trafficking trial ended up working in a cannabis factory.
When police raided 3 Acregate Lane, Ribbleton, Preston, last October they discovered 400 plants in the basement and bedroom.
The haul would have produced deals for the strongest skunk type of cannabis worth £12,000 on the streets.
Lap Tran, 36, had been brought to the UK by the Crown Prosecution Service as a witness in the people trafficking trial.
Lap Tran came to the UK on a ticket paid for by the CPS.
Tran stayed on in the UK and although his status is still not certain, is probably an illegal immigrant, the court heard.
Andrew Alty, prosecuting, told the court that Tran was the father of a child born in this country with a Vietnamese mother, but at the time he arrived in Preston he was virtually penniless and vulnerable.
Pressure was placed on him by others who had set-up the cannabis factory in the city.
Mr Alty said: "He was put in a difficult position – what he was doing was tending to the plants, switching lights on and off."
Tran pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis and was jailed for two years.
Judge Christopher Cornwall said he was recommending to the Home Secretary that Tran is deported back to Vietnam at the end of his sentence.
The judge told Tran he had previous convictions in this country for possession of drugs, handling and theft.
Judge Cornwall said there had to be a deterrent sentence despite his personal circumstances, because he had allowed himself to be involved in the production of the most harmful cannabis finding its way on to the streets.
A young co-defendant has also admitted the conspiracy charge, but the court was told it remains a mystery as to her true age.
She was also arrested at Acregate Lane with the latest medical report stating she could be nearly 16 or approaching 18. She will be sentenced later this month.
Kirsten McEnteer, prsoecuting, said the plants found at Acregate Lane were being grown using a sophisticated hydroponics system and as soon as police entered the premises there was a strong smell of cannabis.
Tran told officers he had nowhere to stay.