Four Vietnamese migrants arrested at a cannabis drug factory will claim they were victims of modern slavery, Kingston Crown Court heard yesterday, 14 November.

The three men and a teenage boy will say they were working under duress to produce the drug at an empty office building in Hampton Hill.

Photographs released by police following a raid last month show more than 1,500 cannabis plants, heat lamps and metal ducting used in the mass production of the drug. 

The farm had approximately 1,500 weed plants (Credit: MPSRichmond via X)

The three adults are of no fixed address and have been in custody since their arrest.

Prosecutor Jordan Platt said all four were arrested at the cannabis factory in Hampton Hill last month.

Local neighbourhood police officers had been tipped off about the factory by concerned neighbours.

The three adults and teen entered a plea of not guilty through a Vietnamese interpreter.

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The judge Mr Bryant-Heron KC said: "As I understand it the issue is to be modern slavery and working under duress.

"I take it as read that modern slavery is going to be run as a defence."

Barrister's acting for the men agreed with the judge who said a trial would likely last two weeks.

Police from the Richmond Safer Neighbourhood team issued photos of the drug bust on X (formerly Twitter) and thanked residents for the tip off.

The three men were remanded in custody until their trial while the teenager was granted bail.

Judge Bryant-Heron set a trial date for 7 April 2025.