Two men have appeared in court accused of involvement in the running of a Wigton cannabis farm.
Police raided an address in the town on 10th March and found a criminal operation comprising in the region of 170 plants, with the potential to yield around £145,000.
In the wake of the find by officers, two men were charged with allegedly producing cannabis. They are 41-year-old Phuc Nguyen — also known as Duc Viet Pham — and 29-year-old Vietnamese compatriot Quang Nguyen.
Both appeared at Carlisle Crown Court this morning and entered pleas of not guilty to the charge they jointly face.
Lawyers representing the men — who spoke with the aid of an interpreter to confirm their names and dates of birth — gave details of their respective intended defences to the allegation
Phuc Nguyen, it was said, had advertised for work in Newcastle area where he had been based and had gone to the Wigton premises where he intended to stay one night before leaving the following day.
Quang Nguyen was said to have been directed to go to the address and look after the contents, but had been unaware that those contents contained cannabis.
A trial in front of a jury was listed and is due to last around three days. This is due to start on July 24 and in the meantime the two defendants, both of no fixed address, have been remanded in custody.
