Vietnamese Illegal Grower Hid from UK Police in Secret Plantation Hideout
One of the darkest aspects of criminalization is that making cultivation illegal pushes it into the black market. Large organized groups often exploit forced labor in the production of marijuana, aiming to maximize profits from illegal operations. Unfortunately, according to British police, officers are increasingly finding migrant prisoners during raids on underground plantations—people whom criminals force to work with the plants under threat of death. Recently, police discovered just such an illegal worker hiding in a secret compartment in the wall of an underground plantation, trying to avoid detection.
The Illegal Cultivator
During a raid on an underground plantation inside a rented house in the town of Dudley, police found a young Vietnamese man hiding in the wall of a room filled with plants. According to police, 29-year-old An Hoang is an illegal immigrant who was brought into the country specifically to cultivate marijuana. Hoang told authorities he tried to hide in the secret compartment to avoid arrest and deportation. He is currently in police custody, answering questions about the 75 marijuana plants found in the house.
Additionally, local prosecutor David Bennett has filed a lawsuit against the migrant on behalf of the property owner, who claims to have been unaware that the rented premises would be used for criminal purposes. It’s worth noting that the plaintiffs in the property damage case point out that the lease was formally signed by a woman. Therefore, police believe Hoang is not a lone cultivator but rather a pawn in a much larger criminal organization.
Court Verdict
Unfortunately for Hoang, the court was not lenient with the migrant laborer. Under pressure, he admitted that he had voluntarily agreed to cultivate marijuana, even though his suspected “accomplices” did not let him leave the house and took his documents. As a result, Hoang will have to serve 10 months in prison before being deported back to Vietnam.
“You were fully aware that you were participating in an illegal enterprise,” the judge said during Hoang’s trial. “In addition to cultivating the plants, you were also using them, so you certainly knew you were involved in the production of a psychoactive substance banned by national and international law.”
Ongoing Investigation
In any case, police have not been able to locate the mysterious woman who rented the house, while the property owners have been left without the means to repair their property. It is impossible to recover damages from the illegal worker, and the name on the rental contract turned out to be an alias.
It’s worth noting that the country’s parliament is currently discussing the issue of legalization. It’s possible that soon, UK authorities may announce at least limited marijuana reforms.