Four men charged over a £10m cannabis farm discovered in Everton are facing jail after an investigation concluded none of them were trafficked into Britain.
Vietnamese defendants Le Nam, 49, Van Nguyen, 36, Thanh Dong, 49, and Doan Quynh, 39, were arrested after police uncovered the crop at Candia Towers on June 10.
Prosecutors had been investigating the possibility that Quynh and Dong may have been trafficked into the country.
Liverpool Crown Court had previously heard this could affect their level of culpability and have a significant impact on sentencing.
A Cannabis farm found in Candia towers on Jason Street, Everton.
But Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, today said the Home Office had ruled that neither of them came to Britain against their will.
The farm was contained within eight flats and spread across three separate floors of the high rise apartment block in Jason Street.
It is believed the crop, which contained more than 2,000 plants, could have been capable of producing up to £10m of cannabis a year.
Officers forced entry and discovered cannabis plants growing in the bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas of the apartments.
Nam, Nguyen, Dong and Qunyh, all of no fixed address, have pleaded guilty to production of cannabis.
The four defendants appeared in court this morning for a sentencing hearing.
However, Judge Robert Warnock adjourned sentencing until November 26, when all defence counsel will be present.
He remanded all four men in custody.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/