Cannabis growhouses report: Gardeners little more than ‘slaves’

The gardeners used by organised gangs to tend to cannabis crops are often little more than “slaves” who usually have to live in squalid conditions.

Det Sgt Roberts said they are typically Vietnamese or Chinese migrants trafficked into the country, though “mostly with their consent”, and are paid, though often not a huge amount.

“They’re gardeners and tend to the crops and are left there for months on end. From a human perspective, it’s quite sad to see,” he said. “The conditions are squalid. They are a small part of a money-making enterprise.”