The operator of a cannabis farm in Macclesfield has been jailed.

Tung Nguyen has been sentenced to 12 months after admitting to cannabis cultivation and abstracting electricity.

Police carried out a raid at an address on Mayfield Avenue on December 19, 2024, after receiving information that drug-related activity had been taking place at the property.

Inside, officers found a large cannabis farm consisting of over 300 plants.

Nguyen, of no fixed abode, was arrested at the scene with police seizing the plants along with equipment used to cultivate them.

Following the sentencing on Monday, January 20, PC Callum Burness said: "These types of grows are often linked with organised crime groups and usually involve the exploitation of vulnerable people who run the grows on behalf of career criminals.

"Local officers are continuously acting on intelligence and carrying out regular enforcement activity across Macclesfield, to go after these organised groups and to stop those at risk of being exploitation and forced into criminality.

"This court result is welcomed as part of our continued effort to tackle organised crime in Cheshire, and although this case has now concluded, our battle against those who are involved in the production and supply of illegal drugs continues.

"I urge anyone with any information about suspected drug related activity in their community to get in touch. You will be listened to, and we will investigate the matter."

Tung Nguyen, 35 and of no fixed abode (Credit: Cheshire Police)

Nguyen appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday, January 20, where he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

The 35-year-old was also ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge and there was a destruction order for the drugs.

Signs that a property is being used as a cannabis farm

• A strong and sickly-sweet smell
• Equipment to grow cannabis being taken into a property, such as lighting and ventilation equipment.
• Constantly covered or blocked-off windows – cannabis farms often have constantly closed curtains, black-out blinds, or foil coverings.
• People coming and going at all hours or neighbours you never see.#
• Strong and constant lighting day and night.
• High levels of heat and condensation – cannabis farms often give off heat and the windows stay misted up.
• A constant buzz of ventilation – listen out for a whirring sound as the growers try to create an ideal climate for cannabis plants to grow.
• Lots of power cables – offenders often dig underground to lay cables that hook up to things like lamp posts so they do not have to pay for the enormous amounts of electricity they use.

To report a suspected cannabis farm or any other type of drug-related offence, call 101, visit the Cheshire Police website or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.