Police discovered a secret factory in Hull where large quantities of sweets were being "infused" with a brown cannabis syrup. Other items found included the ingredients to produce the product, syringes to inject the cannabis syrup into sweets and 120 cannabis plants, the Hull Crown Court heard.
Sergei Charinov, 46, admitted producing cannabis and possessing a police-style baton as an offensive weapon on December 7, Hull Live reports. Benjamin Donnell, prosecuting, told the court that the police searched a vehicle suspected of being connected to the supply of illegal substances, and found a large amount of "edible cannabis sweets" in two large boxes. A delivery address linked to Charinov's house was also discovered.
Police said he was "very welcoming" when they visited his house, inviting them inside to conduct a search. "Officers found multiple bags of red and white sweets weighing 3kg," said Mr Donnell.
Numerous boxes similar to those discovered in the vehicle prior were found, as well as a large quantity of sweets in the kitchen, as well as syringes, containing a brown syrup, in the fridge. A spatula with syrup on it was next to the cooker, and a rectangular tray with a brown powder substance on it was found on top of the fridge.
Above the kitchen cupboards were trays covered with parchment paper, and jars were of a dark substance. Resealable bags for sweets were found in a cupboard as well as packages.
Mr Donnel said: "These packages contained upon them logos which the public would see in a corner shop, such as wine gums and the like. The set-up within the kitchen and the large quantities of sweets and sweet packets within the property suggest that the kitchen was being used to produce the brown syrup.
"That brown syrup was made from cannabis that was being grown in the property and the syringes were being used to infuse the sweets with that cannabis syrup."
Once in the bedroom, police discovered silver sheeting on the walls, which indicate a cannabis factory. 100 cannabis plants were discovered in the attic, with a further 20 plants in another bedroom.
"This set-up suggests that this was quite a sophisticated grow," said Mr Donnell. "Within this enterprise, the defendant played a significant role. In effect, he operated an edible cannabis sweets factory and so he played an operational function within the chain.
"This was an operation capable of producing significant quantities for commercial use. This was clearly an ongoing large-scale operation as evidenced by the presence of specialist equipment in the property." A police-style baton was also found in the house.
Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, said Charinov came to this country from Lithuania in search of work: "The defendant had a trade as a roofer and it was his intention to put his skills to good use.
"However, upon arrival, the defendant having been here for approximately four to five months, he was approached by an unknown male. That individual offered him accommodation and employment, that employment being illegitimate working in the property to produce cannabis.
"The defendant fully accepts that he knew that the venture was illegal and there is no excuse for his offending. He wishes to express his remorse for having to appear before the courts. He has no previous convictions."
Judge Kate Rayfield told Charinov: "The police visited the home where you were living. There, they discovered a sophisticated cannabis operation, within which significant numbers of cannabis plants were being grown and, after harvest, were being infused with syrup in order to manufacture cannabis sweets.
"The elements of sophistication to the growing of those plants is obvious. There was a proper watering system, silver sheeting lining the walls and ducting to extract the hot air.
"The size of the operation was plainly capable of producing significant quantities for commercial gain. You had a clear operational function within the chain.
"This was employment offered to you which you accepted, knowing that it was entirely criminal. Not finding legitimate work does not justify engaging in illegitimate work."
Charinov received a sentence of two years and four months, and the cannabis plants, equipment and baton will be forfeited and destroyed.
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