A VIETNAMESE man has been jailed, and will be deported, after admitting growing cannabis worth around half a million pounds.

Hieu Nhan Vo was arrested on June 1 after police raided houses in Weston’s Boulevard and Atlantic Road South and found two cannabis factories.

On Thursday, he pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court to a single charge of production of a class B drug and was jailed for 13 months.

And as 34-year-old Vo was in the UK illegally, he will also be deported at the conclusion of his sentence.

His arrest came when police forced their way into the Boulevard property and discovered an ‘extensive and sophisticated’ drug-growing operation.

The set-up included chemicals and lighting kit used to cultivate cannabis.

Vo was found in charge of the operation, and arrested at the scene. He admitted his involvement during police interviews.

A second drugs factory was then uncovered the same day in Atlantic Road South, where officers seized 680 cannabis plants at different stages of cultivation.

Speaking after Ho’s sentencing, beat manager PC Marc Flavell said: “This was a significant result in our ongoing campaign to tackle drugs in the town.

“Many of the plants seized were at a stage where they would have been cropped and bought onto the streets of Weston within the next few weeks, causing harm to the wider community.

“I would like to thank the local community for their continued support and ask anyone who may have information on cannabis cultivation or drug dealing in your area to report it to us.”

Anyone who does have information on drug dealing in their area is urged to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.