Inside giant Hull cannabis farm: 1,700 plants worth £1.5m sniffed out by PCSO on the beat  

Two Vietnamese men were jailed this week for growing almost 1,700 plants, worth £1.5m, inside the former Hardaker's fireplace showroom in west Hull.

Police said it is the second-biggest cannabis factory ever found in the city.

Sergeant Jim Clough, of the Riverside neighbourhood policing team, said: "This was an extremely professional, industrial operation."

The cannabis factory was sniffed out by PCSO Pat Cook, who noticed the distinctive aroma of cannabis while he was out on patrol.

After he reported his suspicions, the force helicopter Oscar 99 flew over the building in Beverley Road, confirming there was a significant heat source inside.

Officers raided the building on June 23, when they found a sophisticated set up spread over three floors.

Both men were arrested at the scene. One of them was found hiding behind a false wall inside. It is believed the pair had been hired by gangmasters to run the factory.

Sgt Clough said: "There was a mattress on the floor, so we know they were living there in squalid conditions.

"There were nine rooms being used to grow cannabis and there was a further five rooms that it could have expanded into.

"It was a large-scale operation."

It is believed it would have cost up to £100,000 to set up the factory.

Thu Van Nguyen, and Thang Van Nguyen were both jailed at Hull Crown Court for two years after admitting producing a controlled drug.

Sgt Clough said: "This was an organised set-up that we have managed to disrupt. They were producing drugs on a large scale, which would have ended up on the streets."

Hull's largest-ever cannabis factory was discovered in a city council-owned building in Northumberland Avenue in 2011.

It had more than 2,000 plants inside, which were believed to be worth £2m.

That factory was also discovered by PCSO Cook, who again recognised the drug's smell.

Three Vietnamese men were later jailed for their role in running the factory.

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Inside-giant-Hull-cannabis-farm-1-700-plants/story-21451890-detail/story.html 13/07/2014