Halifax: Man jailed after cannabis farm found above shop

A man has been jailed for five years after a cannabis farm worth £400,000 was found above a shop in Halifax.

Vietnamese national Vuong Nguyen, 47, was arrested at the premises in Boston Street in September after police discovered more than 1,000 plants.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of production of cannabis at a hearing last month and was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on Monday.

Recorder Taryn Turner said he could expect to be deported upon his release.

When police searched the two floors of the premises they found more than 370 plants being grown in four rooms, with a further 715 young plants ready to be grown as a follow-on crop.

Prosecutor David McGonigal said the 373 mature plants could have produced 20.5 kilos of cannabis, with a wholesale value of £170,000 to £246,000.

If sold on the street, the cannabis could have been worth £410,000, he added.

The court heard Nguyen had been living in "squalor" at the premises. His solicitor Andrew Walker said his client was doing what he was told after being trafficked into the UK.

Mr Walker said Nguyen had previously spent three months in hospital after he was beaten by traffickers.

Following his arrest it was discovered he was already on police bail, having been involved with an earlier cannabis grow at a house in Ilford, Greater London, in September 2021.

Mr Walker said Nguyen could barely speak English and was doing what he was told and following instructions.

"There are elements of his exploitation by others," he added.

However, speaking via an interpreter, Judge Turner told Nguyen: "You went into both these operations, I'm quite satisfied, with your eyes open."

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