A 70-year-old man accused of being involved in cannabis factories at four sites in Suffolk has been unanimously cleared by a jury.
Before Ipswich Crown Court was Hasan Tunc of Kirkley Cliff, Lowestoft. He had denied being involved in the production of cannabis between September 2019 and May 2021 and was found not guilty after a trial.
Giving evidence Tunc denied any involvement in the production of cannabis and said it was something he would never do as he thought it was wrong.
He told the jury he was a Kurdish national and suffered at the hands of the Kurdish military in his youth.
When he attempted to form a teachers’ union, Tunc said he was arrested and tortured by members of the Turkish military.
Tunc, who has lived in the UK for 20 years, said he had worked primarily as a restaurateur, sculptor and painter.
During his trial the court heard that more than 300 plants were found in four growing areas at Cooks Warehouse in Lowestoft.
The plants had the potential of producing cannabis which could have been sold in bulk for more than £100,000.
Suffolk police drug expert, Alexander Haversian said the plants, could have produced 17kgs of female flowering heads which could have been sold in bulk for between £51,000 and £146,800.
It was alleged that Tunc was involved in organising the rental of properties used for growing “industrial” quantities of cannabis at four locations in Suffolk including Cooks Warehouse.
The other premises were at Kirkley Business Park where 885 cannabis plants, transformer units, lights, filters and fans were found and the Woodworks cafe in Commercial Road, Lowestoft, said Jack Coyne, prosecuting.
Police also discovered sheeting on the walls and floor, ventilation tubes, wires hanging from the ceiling at an abandoned cannabis growing area at the Pomegranate cafe in Earsham Street, Bungay. The court heard the electricity supply at the premises had been bypassed.
Share