Four jailed following investigation into modern slavery and drugs in Essex
A two-year investigation has seen the group put behind bars.
Last updated 22nd Nov 2021
Four men are behind bars thanks to a two-year investigation into modern slavery and drug supply across Essex.
Five men were sentenced in total.
It follows warrants executed at properties in Essex and London between November 2019 and July 2020.
Here's what was found:
Rawreth Industrial Estate, Rayleigh, on 29 November 2019, where officers found 8 industrial units containing 1015 cannabis plants in total;
Bromfords Farm, Wickford, on 1 May 2020, where officers found 361 cannabis plants in a house;
London Recycling factory, Barking, on 15 July 2020, where officers found 850 cannabis plants;
Melbourne Road, Clacton, on 15 July 2020, where officers found 26 cannabis plants spread across three bedrooms in a house.
In total over two thousand cannabis plants were seized with an estimated value of over £2m.
Police also discovered five Vietnamese nationals who had been forced to harvest and guard the plants, and were found living in appalling conditions.
Two years after the operation began, five men were sentenced at Basildon Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis.
James Jacobs, 39, of Stevens Close, Canvey, who was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment;
Danny Hicks, 41, of St John’s Road, Clacton, sentenced to 3 years and 8 months imprisonment;
Gary Calder, 43, of Whernside Avenue, Canvey, sentenced to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment;
David Hall, 37, of Caspian Walk, London, sentenced to 3 years and 4 months imprisonment.
A fifth man, Terrence Green, 34 of St John's Road in Clacton, was given a suspended sentence of two years and six months, and was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
The lead officer for the case, who does not wish to be named, said: “I’m extremely proud of all of the teams who have been involved in the investigation, whose hard work and dedication has helped sentence five men for their crimes and prevented a substantial quantity of cannabis from entering the illegal market.
"Not only this but we were able to safeguard five vulnerable people.
“People trapped in modern slavery have their freedoms taken from them and often have to endure terrible working and living conditions.
“Although we often associate modern slavery with international enterprises, the sad truth is that there are victims across Essex who need our support and perpetrators that need to be brought to justice.
“If you think someone is being exploited, please report it to us or ring the modern slavery helpline on 0800 012 1700.”