Caithness drug accused sentenced

Man involved in former U.S. base cannabis farm jailed for two-and-a-half years at Perth

A MAN involved in the large-scale cultivation of cannabis has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail, at Perth Sheriff Court today.
Jiajie He (30), no fixed address, was found guilty in October this year of being concerned in the supply of class B controlled drugs.
Three other men have already been jailed for a combined 10 years 6 months for their part in the drugs conspiracy. Wan Yue Lin (44) of New Cross, London and Bo Chen (26) - also known as Hui Yu and Zhin Bo Yu - of Kilbirnie, Ayrshire pleaded guilty in July to being concerned in the supply of class B controlled drugs.The third man, Ah Bing Zheng (32) – also known as Ah Bing Chen - no fixed abode, was identified as the ‘gardener’ within the cannabis factory and admitted to being involved in the production of cannabis.
All four men were the subject of Operation Solstice, a joint investigation by Northern Constabulary and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) into the activities of a serious organised crime group involved in the production and distribution of cannabis.
The investigation revealed that the gang had rented a former American naval communications base at Forss, Thurso, to set up an illegal cannabis farm, which police estimate was worth approximately 1250,000. Gang members were operating across the UK, with illegal drugs being transported down south from Scotland.
The four men were observed under surveillance visiting the cannabis factory, carrying suitcases in and out of the property and transporting them to a separate house in Wick.
Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole, head of investigations, SCDEA said:
“The commercial cultivation of cannabis represents a highly profitable business for serious organised crime groups, and is one which they believe is low risk. But today’s sentencing and the overall outcome of this investigation challenges that perception and sends a very clear message to those involved that there are serious consequences for this type of criminal activity.
“This gang was highly organised and every detail of their illegal enterprise was meticulously planned.Each member had their role to play, but they were equally concerned with maximising profits, regardless of the harms caused by these illegal enterprises and drug misuse.
“As a result of our investigation, we have significantly disrupted the activities of a serious organised crime group.A number of people are behind bars for the part they played in the group, and we have removed the risk to the local community by dismantling an illegal cannabis cultivation.
“The public’s help in identifying cannabis cultivations across Scotland has been invaluable and I would urge people to continue to be alert to this type of criminality and report anything they think is suspicious. By working together in this way, we can disrupt the activities of serious organised crime groups and make our communities safer.”
Detective Chief Inspector Kenny Anderson, Northern Constabulary said: "We note the sentence handed out today to Jiajie He. One of the Force's strategic priorities is the targeting of serious and organised crime. Large scale cannabis cultivations are inexorably linked to organised crime.
"Northern Constabulary will continue to work closely with other police agencies, including the SCDEA, to detect and disrupt serious and organised crime groups and anyone involved in such activity.
"I would like to remind the community and landlords letting private properties, that there are a number of ways in which they can identify potential cannabis cultivations. These include:
The houses leased can be either remote or urban, but are generally detached and are usually paid in cash
Landlords or letting agents should check premises regularly
Windows may be permanently covered from inside
Visits to the premises occur at unusual times of night or day
People may not live in the premises and only visit to maintain them
People may call regularly but not stay long
The cannabis or by-products such as fertiliser may be removed in bin bags or laundry bags
Compost bags and gardening equipment may be left outside
There may be a vent protruding through a roof or rear window
There may be a pungent smell coming from the premises
There may be a noise coming from the equipment in the premises.”
CHRONOLOGY OF KEY EVENTS
In April 2010, Wan Yue Lin signed a lease agreement for the former American naval base in Thurso, Caithness, paying a rent of 12,000 per month. The police investigation revealed that prior to this date, regular enquiries had been received from the crime gang regarding the lease of the property suggesting it would be used for storage and distribution on behalf of a food company.
Wan Yue Lin made regular visits to the cultivation site and he supplied food provisions for the on-site ‘gardener’, Ah Bing Zheng.
On 11 December 2010, Wan Yue Lin was observed under surveillance arriving at the production site in Thurso with a large suitcase. The following day he was seen at an address at Owen Place in Wick where he was witnessed placing a number of suitcases into a taxi registered in Wales, which then travelled south to Wales. It was assessed that the suitcases contained illegal drugs which were being taken south for onward distribution.
On Saturday 19 February 2011, Wan Yue Lin was seen entering the cannabis cultivation site with a large suitcase. The following day (Sunday 20 February), he was seen leaving the site with three large suitcases, which he took to Owen Place, Wick. He was joined by accomplice Bo Chen, who helped carry the suitcases into the property. A few moments later, a car registered in Wales arrived and two suitcases were loaded into the vehicle.
The car was stopped by police later that day at The Triangle services, Dunkeld Road, Perth and found to be occupied by Jiajie He. The suitcases were found to contain 59 kilograms of cannabis bud, which when subjected to the drying process would have produced 14.75 kilograms of cannabis for supply, with an estimated street value of 173,750.
On Tuesday 29 March 2011, officers from the SCDEA and Northern Constabulary implemented a day of action to arrest members of the crime group.
Officers raided the production site in Thurso, Caithness and seized around 570 cannabis plants, which were estimated to be worth between 1150-1450 each, making the total cultivation site worth between 185,000 and 1250,000.
The property contained 12 rooms in total, three of which were being used as separate growing areas.There was also a ‘drying’ room which contained lots of plant debris.The bathroom had been split into two separate areas, with one side evidently being used to mix chemicals and the other part used as a makeshift cooking area.Another room was being used to store fertiliser and other chemicals, and there were numerous lights and electrical appliances throughout the building.
Officers also found the ‘gardener’, Ah Bing Zheng hiding within the building.His living area consisted of a small room where officers found food items, and a sleeping area in a separate small room.
On the same day, officers from the SCDEA travelled to London and arrested the principal of the crime gang, Wan Yue Lin at an address in the New Cross area of the city. He had 12,000 cash in his possession – equivalent to one month’s rent for the cultivation site.
Officers also arrested drug courier Bo Chen on 29 March at an address in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1.Operation Solstice developed from Northern Constabulary’s Operation Aviation, which was instigated in October 2010 in response to intelligence on the crime group’s activities.The inquiry was passed to the SCDEA in January 2011 when it became Operation Solstice.
2.The three other men who have already been jailed were sentenced on 24 August 2011 at Inverness Sheriff Court:
oWan Yue Lin – sentenced to four years six months
oBo Chen – sentenced to three years
oAh Bing Zheng – sentenced to three years
3.The SCDEA’s Scottish Intelligence Coordination Unit (SICU) now holds the national remit for Project League (previously Operation League), which coordinates intelligence on South East Asian organised crime group cannabis cultivations. The SICU shares national intelligence with forces, as well as agencies across the UK and Europe.
4.In 2010, police in Scotland uncovered cannabis cultivations worth approximately 15.9 million - a significant decrease from the previous year (2009) during which police identified and dismantled cultivation sites worth a total 110.6 million. There are likely to be a number of reasons for the decline, including the effectiveness of enforcement activity in detecting cultivations, as well as a change in approach by the serious organised crime groups responsible for this crime.
5.Members of the public should report any suspicious activity to their local police office, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
6.Photos of the four men and cannabis seized are available.Video footage of the cultivation site is also available.Contact SPSA corporate communications.