TWO men have appeared before a Carlisle court accused of running a cannabis farm in a former Whitehaven shop.

Viet Nguyeen, 30, and Su Van Guuyen, 27, who both have no fixed address, face allegations that they were illegally producing cannabis which had a potential value of more than £200,000.

Both defendants have been charged with producing the Class B drug in a former tanning shop in Market Place, Whitehaven. They are also accused of being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

According to court papers, they are accused of committing committed the offence on September 14. Prosecutors allege that the men – both Vietnamese nationals – were involved with 185 adult cannabis plants and 237 seedlings.

They also allegedly had 3.5kilos of “bagged up” cannabis. 

Prosecutor Pamela Fee told Carlisle’s Rickergate Magistrates’ Court the case should be dealt with at a crown court because those convicted of such an offence face a potential sentence starting point of five-and-a-half years.

Neither defendant applied for bail.

Magistrates ruled that the case should be sent to Carlisle Crown Court for an initial hearing on October 14, remanding both men in custody in the meantime. Neither formally entered a plea. Both men were legally represented: Van Guuyen by Sean Harkin and Nguyeen by Kate Hunter.