GANG JAILED FOR RUNNING CANNABIS FACTORIES

A VIETNAMESE drugs gang have been jailed for their part in an
organised cannabis growing business.

Tam Cao, 27, Tan Troung, 46, and Bang Pham, 24, all received prison
terms for their part in cultivating drugs at houses across town.

Lee Thi Nguyen, a 37-year-old mother of two young children, received a
suspended sentence, while all four, who are illegal immigrants, have
also been recommended for deportation.

James Patrick, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that in the
summer of last year police uncovered a series of cannabis farms across
the town.

Private rented houses had been converted to grow the plants
indoors.

He said the first property was found in Okebourne Park, in Liden, on
July 22 when they were called out on another matter.

Raids then took place at a number of houses, including ones in Haydon
Street, Alexandra Road, Read Street, County Road, Broome Manor Lane
and Edgar Row Close, Wroughton.

Troung was found living at the Wroughton address. Cao's fingerprints
were found at three of the other properties and Pham's were found at
the Haydon Street house.

Mr Patrick said Lee Thi Nguyen was a look-out, Troung a farmer, and
Cao helped set up the farms.

He said the other two were hard to place but had been involved in
getting the property and were not at the bottom of the scale.

Lee Thi Nguyen, of Padstow Road, and Troung, of Edgar Row Close,
admitted the cultivation of cannabis on the first day of the trial.

Bang Pham, of Read Street, and Binh Nguyen, of Padstow Road, admitted
similar charges and Cao, also of Padstow Road, was found guilty at
trial.

Jon Harrison, defending Cao, said his client, who had a 19-year-old
wife and young daughter, was towards the bottom of the chain of command.

Jonathan Simpson, defending Lee Thi Nguyen, said she had two children,
had given birth in custody and was living in Swansea with the help of
a refugee charity.

Lucia Whittle-Martin, defending Troung, said he had come to Britain a
few months before he was arrested. He had been given the room and food
in return for looking after the plants, which he was told were being
grown for medicine.

James Cranfield, defending Pham, said his client was an illegal
immigrant and before getting involved in the drugs growing had been
able to support himself and his wife.

Judge John McNaught jailed Cao for three and half years, Pham for two
years and Troung also for two years. He also ordered the confiscation
of UKP1,292.81 from Pham.

Lee Thi Nguyen was jailed for 12 months suspended for a year and she
was ordered to do 60 hours community service. Binh Nguyen will be
sentenced today after a mix-up at Gloucester prison meant he was not
brought to court.