Cannabis farmer who ran £70,000 drugs factory with his next door neighbour told to pay up
A cannabis farmer jailed for four years for operating drug factories with his next door neighbour has been told to pay £21,000 or face more time behind bars.
Police found more than 60 cannabis plants when they raided the properties which were both owned by Carl Berry in Primrose Bank, Langley, in April last year.
Berry, who was described as the leader of the operation, was jailed for a total of four-and-a-half years after admitting producing cannabis and possession of the drug with intent to supply in July last year.
At the time, police said the operation could have been worth £70,000.
West Midlands Police successfully applied for a confiscation order against Berry for £21,018,56. He appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court this week and was given three months to pay, or face another year behind bars.
Dc Yvonne Barwani from the Economic Crime Team said: "It was found that Mr Berry had financially benefited from his crime and after checking through his financial records we discovered he had equity in both the properties he owned.
"Mr Berry tried to put one up for sale but we placed a restraint on his finances to prevent the sale.
"The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) allows us to recover money and assets gained by offenders through their criminal activity after they have been sentenced at court.
"If Mr Berry doesn't pay the money he owes within three months, he will have another 12 months added to the prison sentence he is currently serving. The debt will not be wiped until he has paid it."
Police said the money would be invested into community projects.
Neighbour 47-year-old Baldev Deshi was jailed for one year after pleading guilty to the same charges.
Passing sentence, Judge Philip Parker said neither of them were of good character when it came to drugs.
"It's clear this operation was a commercial one, and it's clear that Mr Berry played a leading role in this operation."
He added that Deshi's role was also significant.
"You were in charge of growing the items at the property you rented," he said.
"You were doing it to satisfy your own habit, but there was a commercial element because you were getting paid to do it."
