Four men jailed after £1.8 Million cannabis factory uncovered in Fen Drayton
Police discovered 1,856 cannabis plants spread across 19 rooms
Four men have been jailed after police uncovered a large-scale cannabis factory worth up to £1.8 million inside two new-build homes in Fen Drayton.
Neighbourhood officers acted on concerns raised by members of the public and visited the five-bedroom properties in Mill Road on 7 January.
Inside, they discovered 1,856 cannabis plants spread across 19 rooms, along with growing equipment, cash, and mobile phones.
Thao Hoang, 44, and Nam Nguyen, 21, were found hiding in a cupboard on the top floor of one of the homes. Meanwhile, Ban Hoang, 50, and Phao Nguyen, 39, attempted to flee but were caught by officers after jumping a fence into the village.
All four men, who have no fixed addresses, were convicted of producing cannabis. Thao Hoang and Ban Hoang pleaded guilty, while Nam Nguyen and Phao Nguyen were found guilty following a trial.
At Peterborough Crown Court on Friday, 25 July, each was sentenced to 13 months in prison.
Detective Constable Kieran Wickens, who investigated, said: “Thanks to information received and our own investigation, we were able to shut down this cannabis factory.
"We can’t be everywhere and we rely on people in communities being our eyes and ears. If you suspect something isn’t right, it more than likely isn’t."
Police are encouraging residents to stay vigilant for signs of illegal cannabis cultivation, including blacked-out windows and unusual activity at all hours.