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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pair jailed over cannabis factory | Pair jailed over cannabis factory |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two men caught with cannabis plants worth almost £225,000 after a huge order of compost raised suspicions have been jailed for four years. | Two men caught with cannabis plants worth almost £225,000 after a huge order of compost raised suspicions have been jailed for four years. |
| Police were alerted after hundreds of bags arrived at Dufftown, Moray. | Police were alerted after hundreds of bags arrived at Dufftown, Moray. |
| Illegal immigrants Chaun Yap, 26, from Malaysia, and Fang Zheng, 43, from China, admitted drug production roles. | Illegal immigrants Chaun Yap, 26, from Malaysia, and Fang Zheng, 43, from China, admitted drug production roles. |
| They were each jailed for two years at the High Court in Edinburgh. Judge Lord Brailsford said they had been "easy prey" as part of a "serious crime". | They were each jailed for two years at the High Court in Edinburgh. Judge Lord Brailsford said they had been "easy prey" as part of a "serious crime". |
| I hope that the sentences will send out a clear message that we will continue to vigorously carry out activities to detect these cultivations and apprehend those involved with them Det Insp Malcolm MacLeodGrampian Police | |
| After being alerted to local concerns about the compost, Grampian Police discovered a "large-scale cannabis cultivation" of 497 plants growing in a bedroom. | After being alerted to local concerns about the compost, Grampian Police discovered a "large-scale cannabis cultivation" of 497 plants growing in a bedroom. |
| Lord Brailsford asked: "Someone had 360 bags of compost delivered to a residential property? Bit of a giveaway, isn't it?" | |
| Zheng told police he had been watering and feeding the plants and had been told by a gang member it was "expensive grass". | Zheng told police he had been watering and feeding the plants and had been told by a gang member it was "expensive grass". |
| He said: "I was just like a fool." | He said: "I was just like a fool." |
| 'Remain vigilant' | |
| The court was told the basement had also been cleared and readied for a further batch of cannabis to be grown. | The court was told the basement had also been cleared and readied for a further batch of cannabis to be grown. |
| Grampian Police Det Insp Malcolm MacLeod, of the drug squad, said: "This was another successful enquiry by Grampian Police into large-scale cannabis cultivations. | |
| "I hope that the sentences today will send out a clear message that we will continue to vigorously carry out activities to detect these cultivations and apprehend those involved with them. | |
| "Our communities have played an integral part in identifying such properties to us and I would urge them to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately." |