Advertisement

Man jailed over multi-million pound cannabis production

A gang member who helped mastermind a multi-million pound cannabis factory, believed to be the biggest in South Yorkshire, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Lam Nguyen Viet, 28, admitted producing cannabis after South Yorkshire Police officers discovered nearly 5,000 plants at an industrial warehouse

Lam Nguyen Viet, 28, of no fixed abode, admitted producing cannabis after South Yorkshire Police officers discovered nearly 5,000 plants at an industrial warehouse in Kettlebridge Road, Attercliffe, with a potential street value of up to £4.2 million.

Viet also admitted producing cannabis at set ups in Leeds and Southampton where he was arrested in July 2014 at a property described as being 'in the early stages of a commercial cannabis factory.'

Officers acted on an anonymous tip off to search a warehouse. They found hidden area divided into five spaces containing 4,771 cannabis plants. Fingerprints on items including a beer can were kept on file which, in June 2014, led officers to Viet when he was arrested at a property in Leeds containing 60 cannabis plants.

Lam Nguyen Viet was part of an organised gang that operated throughout the country. This was a substantial seizure of cannabis with a street value in the millions and this prosecution highlights South Yorkshire Police's continued efforts to tackle organised crime. The huge amount of cannabis we recovered has been destroyed and this police operation has undoubtedly rid the streets of South Yorkshire of a significant amount of drugs.

– PC Richard Stump