Cannabis farm pub is stripped of its licence
MEN ARRESTED AFTER HUGE ‘DRUGS FACTORY’ DISCOVERED
A HULL pub at the centre of a huge cannabis haul has been stripped of its alcohol licence.
The move by Hull City Council’s licensing sub-committee came after a police raid on the Zetland Arms in Portobello Street, east Hull, last month.
Officers from Humberside Police battered down the rear entrance of the building before discovering an estimated 1,200 cannabis plants growing in different rooms.
Two men, aged 33 and 48, found at the premises were escorted out in handcuffs by officers.
Long Phi and Nguew Lam were later charged with producing cannabis at the pub where it is believed they were also living. They have also been charged with extracting electricity.
At the time, the pub was boarded up and not in use.
In evidence submitted at Monday’s sub-committee, police said the street value of the cannabis plants recovered from the pub was put at approximately £600,000.
In a statement, Detective Superintendent Simon Gawthorpe said: “This was a large-scale sophisticated operation which involved a significant electrical by-pass system.
“Such was the sophistication, and the huge value of this cannabis production operation, it is without doubt linked to organised crime. As a serious crime, it needs bringing to the immediate attention of the licensing sub-committee for their attention.”
Police licensing officer PC Gavin Davie said it was thought the pub had been shut since at least the start of the year.
He added: “Due to Covid and the pandemic, it is difficult to say when the premises were last open and used as a pub.”
Councillors heard licensing fees had not been paid to the council when they were due last January, having previously been paid as normal in 2019 and 2020.
Licensing enforcement officers subsequently attended the pub in June but found it shut.
The seizure at the pub was the largest single haul during a fourday police crackdown as part of the force’s ongoing Operation Galaxy initiative targeting organised crime.
A total of 39 addresses were searched resulting in the seizure of £12m worth of cannabis and £300,000 in cash.