Cannabis farm raided, youth avoids custody

A juvenile Vietnamese boy was the sole person arrested recently at a cannabis farm in West Wales. In his police interview he explained through his interpreter that he had been brought to the UK in October 2009 with no passport or documents, and left in London. He said that he survived there for two months and was then approached by a man offering him paid work,which he accepted, and he was then transported to the cannabis farm and locked into the house alone, with instructions to water the plants, which he realised were cannabis plants. He was arrested three days later.

He was charged with production of over 500 cannabis plants, and taken to Carmarthen Magistrates Court on 23rd December where he pleaded guilty. The Magistrates sentenced him to a three month Referral Order and expressed their concern that there was no agency to refer him to for assistance and accommodation.

However, he did receive immediate compassionate assistance albeit not from any official agency, and so was not put out onto the streets just before Christmas with nowhere to go.