Cannabis clan are jailed

Published 19 Mar 2010 08:00

FOUR men behind plans for a "significant" cannabis farm have been jailed after they were discovered by Bracknell police.

The four men from Maidenhead and London were sentenced to a combined total of nearly 12 years for partially setting up the large-scale factory at a former farm in Winkfield.

Detective Constable Pete Clarke, the investigating officer, said: "The judge stated that this was a serious organised family business, with the assistance of local help, which would have reaped huge financial rewards in the course of a year once fully operational.

"The sentences handed down are significant, given that the defendants pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, which entitles them to a 25-per-cent reduction in their sentences.

"We continue to crack down hard on the cultivation and supply of cannabis. Police have closed down dozens of cannabis 'factories' in Berkshire East, and we will deal robustly with those who profit from this illegal trade."

The part-equipped drug factory was discovered after officers from the Bracknell neighbourhood policing team carried out a search in Winkfield while looking for a stolen digger.

They went to The Mill, a former farm in Crouch Lane, but became suspicious that something was not right and made repeat visits, including on October 13, when neighbourhood officers PC Ian McDonnell and PC Dave Keenan caught the men with cannabis cultivation equipment and arrested them.

They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce a class B drug.

Cllr Iain McCracken, Bracknell Forest Council's executive member for public protection, said: "While the borough does not have a significant drug problem and the use of drugs is lower than in some neighbouring local authority areas, we will not tolerate anyone producing drugs here in Bracknell Forest to be sold either locally or in other places.

"The council and our partners in Thames Valley Police are determined to make the borough a hostile place for those who produce and sell drugs and this successful conviction demonstrates our commitment to catching those who are involved on the drugs trade."

At Reading Crown Court on March 5, the court heard that the operation was set up by Quy Hoang, 36, of Neptune Street, London, who was jailed for four years.

It was organised by Thanh Hoang, 30, also of Neptune Street, and Ben William Russell, 25, of Desborough Crescent, Maidenhead, who were each given three years imprisonment.

The fourth man, Le Hoang, 38, again of Neptune Street, was judged to be the "gardener" responsible for looking after the crop and was given a 21-month sentence.

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This article appeared in Villager 17 Mar 10

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