Cops raid Paisley flat and find cannabis farm and 'chained' man

Le Van Duan was snared when cops could smell the stench of cannabis coming from the Laighpark View flat. 

When police looked through the letterbox last November, they could see loose cabling, ducting and tarpaulin on doors and hear the sound of fans. 

When the flat was raided, 167 “healthy and well-maintained” cannabis plants were found alongside the 33-year-old, who was sitting on the kitchen floor with a chain and padlock around his feet. 

When cops helped Duan to his feet, it was clear the chain was loose and that he was sitting on the padlock key. 

Procurator fiscal depute Jason Stark previosuly told Paisley Sheriff Court: “Around 2pm on November 27, 2025, police noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from the close at the flat.

“Police carried out door-to-door enquiries and identified the property where the smell was coming from. 

“Police looked through the letterbox and noted the smell emanating from the property.

“Upon looking through, they observed loose cabling running from rooms, ducting on doorways, sounds of fans within and tarpaulin covering the doors of rooms. 

“Due to signs of a cannabis cultivation within, officers knocked on the door and got no answer, and so they forced the door due to the fire risk.

“On entering, they observed a fully functioning cannabis cultivation within three rooms.”

Mr Stark told the court 45 plants were found in room one, 37 plants were found in room two and in room three, 85 plants were found. 

Cops then found Duan in the kitchen of the property. 

Mr Stark added: “The accused was sitting on the floor with a chain and padlock round his feet. 

“Police assisted him and they noted the chain was so loosely wrapped he was easily able to slip it off. 

“He had no injuries or redness showing he had not had them on for any prolonged period. 

“Upon assisting him to his feet, officers recovered the key behind where he was sitting as if he was trying to conceal it.

“The accused was arrested and while officers were dismantling the cultivation they recovered two mobile phones concealed within the extractor fan of the gas hob.”

The court heard all 167 plants were “healthy and well maintained.”

Mr Stark explained the terms of human trafficking, the national referral mechanism of competency revealed there is “no current reasonable grounds to conclude Duan is a victim of modern slavery.”

The estimated value of the plants was between £33,400 to £100,200.

Duan, described as a prisoner of Low Moss prison, admitted to producing cannabis and to bypassing the electricity meter within the Laighpark View flat. 

Sheriff Thomas McCartney jailed Duan for 18 months, backdating this to his date of remand on November 28, last year.