A Vietnamese illegal immigrant has pleaded guilty to running a cannabis factory worth more than £100,000 in Smethwick, England

Minh Van Tran, aged 27, has admitted producing 366 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of £109,800 at Sandwell Magistrates Court. Kelly Hale, prosecuting, told the court that Tran was found by police at the property. She said that officers discovered the factory in the loft space of the building. The loft was covered in white sheeting and there was a full hydroponic set up, with heat lamps. They discovered eight large cannabis plants and 358 smaller plants. Baldev Mehay, defending, told the court that Tran had come to Britain illegally via Russia. Mehay says that Tran, who is of no fixed address, wishes to return to Vietnam as soon as possible. Magistrates decided to remand Tran in custody and he will be sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on December 16, 2011. Meanwhile, Hiem Thi Le, aged 38 of Albert Road, London, appeared at the court and pleaded not guilty to a charge of producing cannabis. She was remanded in custody, and will next appear at the court on November 23, 2011.