Drugs accused says he was ‘effectively kidnapped’ as cannabis grow house raided in Louth

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

Two men have appeared in court after gardaí swooped on what has been described as a “sophisticated” cannabis grow house in Drogheda.

Evidence was given that cannabis plants and a half kg of cannabis valued €840,000 were discovered during a raid on the premises.

Dung Van Phan (46) and Tuyen Van Dang (45), both of no fixed abode in the Drogheda area, were brought before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court.

They are each accused of cultivation of cannabis plants without a licence, and possession and possession for sale or supply of cannabis.

The offences are alleged to have been committed at Unit 8B, Greenhills Industrial Village, Drogheda, on August 5 last.

The men, who had the assistance of an interpreter in court and for the arrest process, are also charged with, on the same date, at Barrack Street, Drogheda, being non-nationals, failing to produce on demand a valid passport or other equivalent document which establishes their identity and nationality.

Gda Seán Blanchfield, Dublin Castle, gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Tuyen Van Dang on August 7, and said that he replied after caution to three of the charges, “I didn’t have any cannabis”, “I didn’t do cultivation” and “I didn’t have any cannabis”.

The defendant did not apply for bail. He was remanded in custody to Dundalk Court on August 13.

Gda Darren Cruise, Dublin Castle, told of the arrest, charge and caution of Dung Van Phan, who in reply to one of the charges said, “I was forced”.

During a contested bail application Gda Cruise described the grow house as a sophisticated operation in a specially converted industrial unit over a ground floor and loft area. It had complex illicit heating and lighting systems.

The unit was powered by unregulated electricity and comprised partitioned rooms, a kitchen and sleeping quarters. A mattress was placed on a kitchen worktop.

He said it will be alleged that it was a large scale operation for the cultivation and distribution of cannabis.

The officer continued that 562 mature cannabis plants and 476 seedlings were found, valued by Forensic Science Ireland at €830,400, and a vacuum pack of half kg of cannabis "prepared for distribution” valued €10,000.

Gda Cruise said that the defendant and his co-accused fled on foot through an emergency exit and onto a main road and were arrested nearby.

He added that the accused had no fixed address beyond the grow house and presented “a serious flight risk”.

It will be alleged that in a series of four interviews he made admissions of being here illegally. He had a €68,000 debt in Vietnam and was working to repay that debt.

Barrister Pearse Collins put it to the witness that Dung Van Phan was forced to leave Vietnam to repay that debt after being “effectively kidnapped”.

Gda Cruise replied that the defendant had said he was forced to leave Asia via a shipping container. He also said he worked in numerous countries. Prior to coming to Ireland he said that he worked in construction.

Mr Collins submitted that loan sharks “made him leave and work for Chinese gangs”.

Gda Cruise responded, “I wouldn’t fully agree with that.”

Counsel submitted that this was a very unfortunate case.

Dung Van Phan was never solely in control of the place. If he was, he wouldn’t be living in it in those conditions.

He had been forced to Ireland by “unknown gangs”.

Mr Collins applied for a remand in custody with consent to bail.

Judge Stephanie Coggans said that the defendant had no address here. Neither had he ties to the local community nor identification documents.

There was no possibility of him getting bail. The court understood why gardaí believed he was a flight risk.

The accused was remanded in custody to Dundalk Court on August 13.

The two defendants were granted legal aid and the court certified for counsel and a Vietnamese interpreter.