The head of an organised crime group who posed as a property developer to control a multi-million pound network of cannabis factories has been jailed for more than six years.
Roman Le, 30, from Birmingham, headed a gang who operated at least eight farms and commercial properties across the Midlands, North West and north Lincolnshire, as well as a storage facility to house both equipment and harvested cannabis.
The kingpin would source the properties by buying or renting them, and in some cases, would place scaffolding around the buildings to make it look like work was taking place.
Roman Le
Lee worked with fellow gang members, Yihao Feng, aged 29, from Manchester, and David Qayumi, aged 36, also from Birmingham, to source and operate the properties.
The factories were staffed by illegal migrants.
The ‘Big Bamboo’ nightclub was one of the locations used in the operation
Among the properties was the ‘Big Bamboo’ nightclub in Coventry, which was raided by NCA and West Midlands Police officers in October 2020.
In the raid, officers found more than 1,500 plants worth more than £1 million spread over three floors.
Cannabis plants were also found The Queens Head in Birmingham
Other locations include The Queens Head, a former public house in Birmingham, and an old hotel in Lancashire. Overall, the farms were found to be capable of making millions of pounds worth of cannabis.
The Queens Head was also used
Lee was arrested at his home, an apartment in Essex Street, Birmingham, on November 4, 2020, which he shared with his girlfriend.
Both Feng and Qayumi pleaded guilty to conspiring to produce cannabis; however, Le denied the charge, claiming he was a ‘legitimate businessman’ who had no knowledge that the properties he had an interest in were being used to produce cannabis.
Yihao Feng, aka Tony, from Manchester
Following an eight-day trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Le was found guilty of the offences and was sentenced to six years and two months today (July 30).
David Zaki Qayumi, aka Zacky, from Plumstead Road, Birmingham
On July 4, Feng and Qayumi were handed prison sentences totalling six and a half years.