Chinese cannabis gang jailed
SIX people are today behind bars after police smashed a multimillion pound drugs ring.
Detectives raided 19 Chinese-run drug factories – all linked – in Sunderland, Crook, County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside during Operation Harp 4 last year.
The three cannabis farms on Wearside were found in Roker Baths Road, Havelock Terrace and The Broadway.
At Newcastle Crown Court, six of the key players were sentenced for conspiracy to produce cannabis, while a seventh was jailed for money laundering offences. Their jail terms total more than 14 years.
Northumbria Police's Detective Chief Inspector Jim Hetherington, said: "This is a fantastic result for the force as the investigation has disrupted some prolific drug production being carried out by a small group of people.
"This sends out the message that we have a variety of investigative tools and ways to trace the masterminds behind conspiracies such as this, and we will not rest until we get them."
The investigation began last year after a sophisticated Chinese-run cannabis farm was discovered at Regent Farm Road, Gosforth, Newcastle, which had links to two found previously in Gateshead and Whickham.
During the operation, officers found the gang would identify private rented accommodation as potential locations, then would use an interpreter to negotiate tenancies with unsuspecting landlords.
False passports were used as ID and cash was paid up front for rents.
Once the tenancies had been negotiated, members of the group would transform the premises into a farm, before locating other foreign nationals – usually illegal immigrants – to act as "farmers" or "gardeners" who would live in the premises and tend to the plants under instructions provided by the ringleaders.
Forensic evidence from the first farm uncovered in Gosforth led the team to Jie Wang, who was arrested by officers on patrol on May 18 last year.
A search of his car revealed documentation and a satellite navigation system which linked him with other – at that time undiscovered – cannabis farms.
He was soon revealed to be a regional manager responsible for overseeing the setting up and running of farms in the North East.
After his arrest, the investigation gathered pace and other arrests followed.
Jie Wang, 28, was jailed for eight years, wife Ling Wang, 31, was given eight months, Bang Quan Lin, 30, was sentenced to four years, Guo Lin, 35, was jailed for 40 months, Ding Hui Wang, 19, was given four months in a Young Offenders' Institution and Bang Xiang Lin, 25, was given 12 months.
All pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis, while interpreter Wei Wei, 26, was given an eight-month suspended jail term for money laundering offences.
All were found to have links to some or all of the farms.
By Danielle Beeton
Source: www.sunderlandecho.com