Five men have been jailed for a total of 17 years and three months for running a £1.4m cannabis factory in West Lothian. Hung Nguyen, 31, Ho Cuong, 24, Nguyen Phong, 22, Wei Nguyen, 28, and Bui Nam, 38 were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
Lord Summers jailed Hung Nguyen, Wei Nguyen and Bui Nam for three years and seven months each. Ho Cuong received a sentence of four years, while Nguyen Phong was jailed for two years and six months.
All five men, who are Asian and were living in the UK illegally, pleaded guilty to producing the Class B drug at the industrial unit between 11 July and 25 September 2024. They were living on the premises alongside the cannabis cultivation at the former retail unit in Polbeth.
The judge addressed the men directly during sentencing. “You operated the cannabis farm in question and you tended to the cannabis plants as was appropriate,” Lord Summers said.
He added: “As you all know, you are illegal immigrants and after you have served your sentence, I anticipate you will be deported.”
The court heard that a man had taken a lease on the property at the DAKS building in Polbeth Industrial Estate, a former clothing factory in West Calder. He had not started operations when he was made aware of a substantial increase in the consumption of power.
When he went to the premises, he found the locks to the main door had been changed. Advocate depute Iain McSporran KC told the court: “Upon entering he observed a substantial and well-established cannabis cultivation.”
The five men fled the premises, but the man who leased the unit called the police. All five were subsequently arrested and charged in connection with drugs offences.
Police discovered 850 plants inside the premises. The premises had been split into three separate growing areas.
Expert officers said the crop of 850 plants had the potential to produce cannabis worth a maximum of £1,419,500.
Expert officers added that the cultivation had the hallmarks of a professional drug cultivation enterprise. It would have required a significant financial investment to set up.
The court heard the operation would also have needed skilled workers to grow large quantities of high quality cannabis. Hung Nguyen, Ho Cuong, Nguyen Phong and Wei Nguyen were paying back a debt.
Nguyen Phong was on bail at the time of the offence. The men’s sentences have now been handed down at the High Court in Glasgow.
Lord Summers indicated that deportation is anticipated after the men have served their sentences. The case followed the police response to the electricity usage increase at the West Calder site.
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