Men charged after large cannabis factory with potential street value of up to £2 million found in Peterborough

Police found the factory when officers who were on patrol in the Welland area came across a vehicle with its window partially down and a wallet on full display inside.They knocked on the door of the house it was parked outside of in Hallaton Road to alert the occupants, however they noticed signs of cannabis cultivation.

Rimvydas Patasius, 33, Eugenijus Nikitsais, 27, and Aleksandras Matiusenki, 36, were arrested by the Community Action Team (CAT) in connection with the discovery of the plants.

A 28-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were also arrested, however they have since been released under investigation.

Patasius, of Dogsthorpe Road, Millfield, Nikitsais, of Leicester Road, Dinnington, Sheffield, and Matiusenki, of Crabtree, Paston, have all been charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis and will appear at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday, 21 April).

Police said two bedrooms within the property had been converted to use for growing cannabis, both of which were full of plants and cultivation equipment.

Enquiries led officers to two further properties at an industrial unit in Alfric Square, Woodston, where they found more cannabis plants and cultivation equipment.

A total of 2,777 cannabis plants were seized and have been valued at about £20,000 in their current growth, however it is believed they would have a potential ‘street value’ of up to £2million.