CANNABIS growers were caught sleeping in a disused care home converted into a drugs factory pumping out more than £1million worth of plants, a court heard.
Larry St Ange, 34, and Ali Acer, 37, awoke to a police raid on the morning of January 4 after a warrant was executed at the former Old Rectory Care Home, in Spring Lane, Colchester.
Ipswich Crown Court heard more than 1,000 cannabis plants were being grown as part of a “sophisticated” set up with lights, heating and a watering system.
Jerry Hayes, prosecuting, said “enormous” quantities of plants were found across the ground, first and second floors of the building.
St Ange, Acer and a third man, Erdal Ozmen, were found sleeping in a ground-floor room.
Mr Hayes said: “The room was large and contained three beds, which were mattresses on top of wooden crates, and next to each bed were large knives and weapons.
“The men were detained while police searched the building.
“It was clear this building was being used to cultivate commercial quantities of cannabis, which would generate a substantial sum of money.”
Mr Hayes said the estimated value of the plants was between £1 million and £3 million, “depending on how it was sold”.
“The rooms has been converted to allow for the plants to grow, with blacked out windows, lamps, heaters and a watering system,” said Mr Hayes.
“It was a sophisticated operation, 18 rooms were being used to grow cannabis and there were more than 1,000 established cannabis plants in total.”
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The court heard a mobile phone was found next to each bed, as well as a cheap “burner” phone which contained the combination to a padlock used to secure the front of the building.
A set of keys to a padlock securing the front door were also found.
The court heard evidence from an officer at the scene, who said weapons, including a machete and a hunting knife, were found next to the beds.
Mr Hayes added: “There was also a kitchen, stocked with food and drink.
“It was a working kitchen for food preparation and consumption.”
Both St Ange, of Shepherd’s Bush Road, Hammersmith, and Acer, of Bodney Road, London, deny producing a class B drug and are standing trial before a jury.
- The trial continues.
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