January 10, 2019 4.22 pm This story is over 62 months old

Men jailed after cannabis farm found at Lincoln house

It had potential to produce £150,000 of the drug
Phong Phan, 31, and Dinh Muoi, 47, have both been jailed. Photo: Lincolnshire Police

Police uncovered a cannabis farm with the potential to produce £150,000 worth of the drug when they raided a property in the south of Lincoln, the city’s Crown Court was told.

A search of the detached house in Euston Close in the Skellingthorpe Road area of Lincoln revealed that each of the four bedrooms had been converted to grow cannabis.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said: “This was a commercial cannabis growing operation that was discovered by the police on July 12.

“There was cannabis growing in all four bedrooms. There had been a professional conversion of each bedroom into a growing area. There was a nursery and then plants at different stages of growth.

“In total there were 187 plants. They appeared healthy.

“It was a professional operation. There was white plastic on the floor, silver reflective material on the walls, fans and high voltage lights.”

Two men found inside the property were arrested.

The court was told that the cannabis plants could yield a crop which could have been sold for anywhere between £30,000 and £150,000.

Mr Howes said: “The owner had rented the property out to what appeared to be a Chinese couple with a child. It had all the hallmarks of a genuine tenancy.”

Phong Phan,31, and Dinh Muoi,47, each admitted production of cannabis. Phan was jailed for 14 months and Muoi for a year.

Phong Phan,31, has been jailed for 14 months. Photo: Lincolnshire Police

Dinh Muoi,47, has been jailed for 12 months. Photo: Lincolnshire Police

Judge John Pini QC, passing sentence, told them: “Somebody else set this cannabis grow up. I accept it wasn’t done by you two. It cost a lot of money. It was very professionally done.”

Nicholas Bleaney, for Phan, told the court: “These are two people who were doing the bidding of others.

“He was a gardener and was looking after the plants. He wasn’t allowed out of the premises.”

Almas Ben-Aribia, for Muoi, said her client had no previous convictions recorded against him either in the UK or in his home country of Vietnam.

“His motivation for coming to this country was to obtain better health care and to assist him as far as his diabetes is concerned.”

She said Muoi’s role was to clean up and to cook food for his co-defendant.

“He never received any payment. He is now hoping to go home to his three children and his wife.”