Grampian Police discovered a large-scale cannabis cultivation of 497 plants growing in a bedroom at Church Street, Dufftown, after hundreds of bags of compost arriving at the house raised suspicion.[1] Illegal immigrants Chaun Yap, 26, from Malaysia, and Fang Zheng, 43, from China, admitted being concerned in drug production.[1] They were each jailed for two years at the High Court in Edinburgh on 31 October 2008.[1]
Judge Lord Brailsford said the pair had been easy prey as part of a serious crime.[1] The court heard that Zheng told police he had been watering and feeding the plants after a gang member told him it was expensive grass, saying he was like a fool.[1] The basement had also been cleared and readied for a further batch of cannabis to be grown.[1] Detective Inspector Malcolm MacLeod of the Grampian drug squad said he hoped the sentences would send a clear message about detecting cultivations and prosecuting those involved, and he urged the public to keep reporting suspicious activity.[1]
