Immigrants jailed for growing cannabis in old factory

POLICE uncovered a “wellorganised” cannabis operation in an empty Port Talbot factory unit after people reported seeing lights on in the building and people coming and going.

Officers raided the unit on Kenfig Industrial Estate just before midnight on May 5, forcing entry through doors and windows.

Inside they found two men – one of whom was a cricketer who had entered the UK on a sports visa – and in the basement more than 400 cannabis plants worth up to £170,000.

Swansea Crown Court heard Vijay Kumar and Sakhinder Singh had met at an immigration detention centre, with the former recruiting the latter to work on the plantation.

Ian Wright, prosecuting, said police went to the estate and forced entry to the building and found Kumar and Singh inside.

Kumar, aged 38, and 23-yearold Singh – both of no fixed address – had previously pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis when they appeared in the dock for sentencing.

Susan Ferrier, for Kumar, said her client had been in the country for some nine years but was “somewhat vulnerable”.

Dean Pulling, for Singh, said his client was a cricketer who had originally come to Britain legally on a sporting visa but had not left when the visa expired.

Mr Pulling said he had then turned to a life of petty crime.

Judge Peter Heywood told both men they had played an important part in the operation.

Kumar was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and Singh to 14 months.

Both will serve half in custody, the court heard.