A Vietnamese ‘gardener’ who was caught at a Luton cannabis factory was sentenced to 20 months in prison on Wednesday, November 25, 2020.
Duy Vu, 32, was working to pay off a debt to people smugglers when he was found in a house in Althorp Road.
Prosecutor Neil King told Luton Crown Court the landlord of the three-storey house in discovered the factory when he made a routine visit on 22nd July last year.
Mr King said the landlord called the police and a locksmith. When the police went in, at a 2.45pm, they found Vu hiding in the kitchen and arrested him. The prosecutor said: “There were 20 plants in the hallway.
On the first floor there were two bedrooms with 60 plants and seedlings and on the top floor there were two bedrooms with 70 plants. “There was a sophisticated hydroponic growing system. T
here had been a full conversion of the house into a cannabis factory.”
When questioned by the police he admitted being a full-time cannabis gardener working under direction of others.
He told the police he owed a debt, having previously been arrested in London at another cannabis factory in December 2013. On March 6, 2014 he was jailed for 18 months at Isleworth Crown Court. Vu of Althorp Road, Luton appeared for sentencing having pleaded guilty to producing a controlled Class B drug via a link from Bedford prison.
He was aided by a Vietnamese interpreter. Defending, Mark Nicholls said: “He came to Luton under coercion to pay off a debt.”
He said attempts had been made to raise a defence that Vu was the victim of modern day slavery, but a panel had not been convened to hear his case.
“He has spent 16 months in custody. He is fully aware he is likely to be deported. He made an application to stay in this country.”
Judge Gary Lucie told him: “You were aware of scale of operation and you were motivated by financial advantage.
“You were engaged in the operation through intimidation and pressure also and you had no influence on those above you in the chain.
Your vulnerability has been exploited.”
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