Published: Monday, 24th March, 2008 10:04am

Villagers outraged by ‘mansion' drugs farm

by Ruth Moulden

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POLICE have raided a huge cannabis factory being run out of three posh houses in Stoke Poges.

In a well-planned and well executed operation more than two dozen police swooped on the rented properties in Park Road where they discovered 1,700 cannabis plants with a street value of tens of thousands of pounds.

Three Vietnamese men, Long The Tran, 33, Tan Van Tran, 24, and Kien Nyugen Trung, 32, have since been charged with being involved in the production of a Class-C drug.

The raid on Wednesday last week is a significant find for police.

Speaking at the scene, DC Mike Sharman said: "It is effectively one factory spread over all three properties. We don't know for sure how long it has been going on but clearly they need 12 weeks at least to get a harvest out. There are some plants at 12 weeks, some at eight, some at four, and some seedlings."

Rooms in the three properties, including one mock-Tudor mansion valued at £1m, were packed full of cannabis plants.

Neighbours Yvonne and Jimmy Ball, who live in the road, were shocked by the raids.

Mr Ball said: "It is not what you expect, not in this area. It is not only a shock but a little bit of outrage as well. It is right under our noses, we are not far from it here."

DC Sharman said the factory was a significant operation in terms of size. He said: "The man that came from the electricity board said this particular factory had been consuming more electricity than any other one he had been to in 11 years.

"They [cultivators] are clearly looking for properties that they can rent and effectively operate in

without discovery. This equipment is not cheap, there is probably something like £20,000 worth of kit in each of these houses just to set the business up."

Chief Inspector George Wrigley, local police area commander for South Bucks, said: "We will not tolerate drugs in South Bucks, whether cultivation or dealing. Anyone caught participating in the drugs trade will face severe consequences.

"Police are very keen to hear from anyone who has information about drug cultivation or dealing, whether they are prepared to leave their names or not."

Anyone with information on drug cultivation or dealing is asked to call police on 08458 505505.