LANCASHIRE police have uncovered a major network of cannabis factories as part of an on-going investigation into alleged drug supply and human trafficking in the north west of England.

Following community intelligence a warrant was executed at an address on Roe Greave Road, Oswaldtwistle in February where a large number of cannabis plants valued in the region of £80,000 were recovered.

Further enquiries identified an address in Bootle, Merseyside and on March 20^th police raided a house on Webster Avenue. Five Vietnamese nationals were arrested and items linked to cannabis production and fraudulent documentation recovered.

Police also recovered a 16 year old Vietnamese girl from the address who had been missing from the Milton Keynes area since 2016 and she is now being safeguarded.

A further nine properties in Merseyside and Greater Manchester were also raided and further evidence of cannabis production recovered.

On Tuesday a further two people, a man and a woman, were arrested after officers stopped a car travelling on the M6 in Cumbria. A holdall containing £75,000 cash was recovered from the vehicle.

A total of nine people have now been charged in connection with the investigation – codenamed Operation Renard.

Detective Sgt Stu Peall, of Lancashire Police’s Human Trafficking Team, said: “While we have made a number of arrests this investigation is very much on-going and will now continue in conjunction with other North West forces to target a group that is bringing misery to a number of vulnerable people.

“I would like to thank colleagues in Cumbria, Merseyside and Greater Manchester for their fantastic support so far in this fast moving and complex investigation.”

 

• Nine people have been charged and will appear at Preston Crown Court on April 23rd. They are:
• 1. Hoi Nguyen, 39 years, Webster Avenue, Merseyside. Conspiracy to produce cannabis
• 2. Giap Nguyen, 31 years, NFA. Conspiracy to produce cannabis
• 3. Huy Nguyen, (no age given) Webster Avenue, Merseyside. Conspiracy to produce cannabis
• 4. Khai Tran, 36 years, Webster Avenue, Merseyside. Conspiracy to produce cannabis
• 5. Thuong Vu (female), 24 years, Webster Avenue, Merseyside. Conspiracy to produce cannabis
• 6. Duoc Tran, 22 years, Webster Avenue, Merseyside. Conspiracy to produce cannabis
• 7. Jack Nguyen, 19 years, Webster Avenue, Merseyside. Conspiracy to produce cannabis and money laundering
• 8. Thanh Nguyen (female), (no age given) Webster Avenue, Merseyside. Conspiracy to produce cannabis
• 9. Thang Nguyen, 66, NFA. Conspiracy to produce cannabis and money laundering.