The sentencing of four men who admitted being involved in a £10 million cannabis farm in an Everton high-rise was delayed after three of them claimed they were trafficked into the country.
They were due to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today over the drug operation which was spread across eight flats on different floors in Candia Towers, Jason Street.
Police experts say it was capable of producing up to £10m of cannabis a year.
Le Nam, 49, Van Nguyen, 36, Thanh Dong, 49, and Doan Quynh, 39, have all pleaded guilty to producing cannabis with intent to supply.
However Chris Taylor, prosecuting, said three of the men claimed they had been trafficked into the country for the purposes of growing the drug.
The court heard immigration officers are making enquiries with Vietnamese authorities to check the claim and asked for the case to be adjourned.
Mr Taylor said the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to prosecute could be “revisited” depending on the outcome of the enquiry.
Officers discovered the drug operation after smelling cannabis and noticing the windows were covered in sheets.
The defendants were found hiding amongst the plants after police forced entry into flats on the fifth, sixth and eight floors.
A two-day operation saw a special cannabis dismantling team remove plants and paraphernalia, including special heat lamps.
The “industrial sized” crop has been described as one of Merseyside’s biggest ever cannabis farms.
At the time of the discovery, Detective Sergeant Paul Jones, of Liverpool CID, said: “It just goes to show how a suspicious smell can lead the police to uncover major criminal activity and I would urge the public to help us spot more of these farms by knowing what the signs of a cannabis farm are and how to report it.”
Sentencing was put back until November 10 and the four defendants were remanded in custody.
If anyone wants to report a cannabis farm they should call Merseyside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/