A GANG which grew more than 1,000 cannabis plants across four counties have been locked up.
The five members were snared when Derbyshire police discovered a cannabis farm in a house on Victoria Street, South Normanton.
They had grown plants in Derbyshire, Notts, West Mercia and the West Midlands, Lincoln Crown Court heard.
Thi Cuc Le, 43, of Crankhall Lane, Wednesbury, West Midlands, was jailed for five years and four months.
Hong Lam, 47, of the same address, was sentenced to five years, Kirandeep Virk, of Stanfell Road, Leicester, received an 18-month sentence and Kieu Oanh Le, 32, of no fixed address, and Hoai Nguyen, 43, of Nineveh Road, Birmingham, were both jailed for 21 months.
They had all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis at an earlier hearing.
The court heard the growers were forced to live in squalid conditions and were working as slaves.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Remi Hopkins, of Derbyshire Police, said: "This was a long and complex investigation into a widespread organised group who were growing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cannabis.
"The excellent, co-ordinated investigations by police in four different counties have been critical to securing these convictions and sending a strong message to those involved in the supply of drugs."