SECRET DRUG DENS SMASHED

Family homes in some of South Wales' smartest residential streets are
being turned into drug factories by criminal gangs.

From outside on the suburban pavements, they look like normal homes.

But under the noses of unsuspecting neighbours, the houses have been
converted into drugs dens.

In the last six months alone, police have discovered up to 20 indoor
cannabis factories run by Vietnamese gangs in rented homes across Cardiff.

But with specially employed 'gardeners' going about their business
quietly and without fuss, locals and the landlords have no idea what
is going on behind closed doors.

It is estimated that the profit for each of these lucrative factories
can be UKP50,000 every two months, which is the time it takes to
cultivate the class C drug ready to be sold on the streets.

Detective Sergeant Tudor Thomas, from South Wales Police's regional
task force, said: 'I would say there are no areas of Cardiff that
aren't affected by this. It's an increasing problem.

'At this time we have dismantled in the region of 15 to 20 of these
premises in Cardiff alone, far more across South Wales, and in each
premises we have found Vietnamese nationals employed as gardeners.

'They treat it like any other place of work and keep themselves to
themselves so often people living in the area won't be aware of what
is going on.'

The skilled gardeners, who can be men or women, are usually aged 17 to
mid 20s, speak limited English, and are paid around UKP300 a week to
tend the cannabis plants. Officers have found they are reluctant to
expand on who else is involved or sometimes they just don't know the
gangmasters who can rent four or five properties.

What is known is that they will be part of a gang where each member
has a job, whether it's gardening, harvesting, or delivering the
drugs. Other roles might include laundering the profits through high
street businesses or installing lighting, irrigation and heating at
the houses.

The 'managers' will spend up to UKP10,000 converting the house which are
always at least three-bedroomed and are often in respectable areas
such as Cyncoed, Heath and Canton, where they can come and go without
attracting too much attention.

'Landlords have been horrified when they see the mess left in their
properties,' said DS Thomas.

'They haven't suspected anything illegal is going on because these
gangs are good payers and cause very little problems which is in their
own interests because they don't want landlords asking questions.

'The damage caused in setting these up is extensive and in every case
we have had to call out electrical engineers to make the properties
safe.

'We want landlords to be aware that there are people out there looking
to rent out premises with a view to producing cannabis and that they
should check all documents and fully vet any potential tenants as we
have found false documents including forged passports which are used
to get tenancy agreements.'

Pensioner Audrey Aitken, who has lived in Hollybush Road, Cyncoed, for
three years, said she was completely unaware of a factory in her road.

She said: 'Of course, I have heard of cannabis factories, but I would
assume they would be more likely to be in central areas like Cathays
or Grangetown.

'I had no idea it was going on. I am surprised.

'It's a very nice area and I can't remember anyone saying there had
been any trouble around here.'

But it's not just Cardiff that has been hit by this national trend as
factories have also been found dotted along the M4 in Swansea, Neath,
Port Talbot and Newport.

'As the regional task force we are looking to disrupt organised crime
gangs that travel within South Wales to produce and supply controlled
drugs,' added DS Thomas.

'We can very quickly tell if an address is being used in this way and
would appeal for anyone who has suspicions about a property to contact
us.'

In the last two months five people have been arrested on suspicion of
producing cannabis.