Five Mexican nationals have denied operating a methamphetamine production facility on a farm in Warwickshire, England, asserting they were present for legitimate employment as chefs and builders. The men appeared at Warwickshire Crown Court and pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiracy to produce the class A drug, methamphetamine, between February and August of this year.
All five men are in their forties. They are Alejandro Ambriz Dimas, 45, from Michoacan; Victora Ramirez, 47; Fausto Beltran, 33; Lioncio Moso Borja, 37; and Jose Nunez Angolo, 44. With the exception of Dimas, the other defendants hail from the Sinaloa region of Mexico, an area known as the headquarters of a powerful drug cartel formerly led by Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman.
During their court appearance, accompanied by interpreters, their legal representatives stated that the men were in the United Kingdom for work purposes and denied any involvement in a drug conspiracy. Dimas's lawyer indicated he was unaware of any such conspiracy and was simply employed on the farm. Beltran's lawyer stated he was on the premises for legitimate reasons as a chef. The lawyer for Ramirez claimed he was present to assist with construction work and, while admitting to prior knowledge of methamphetamine, maintained that was not why he was there.
The defendants are alleged to be part of a criminal group that operated a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory on a farm near Furnace End in Warwickshire. The discovery and alleged operation of this lab mirror elements of the television series 'Breaking Bad.'
The arrests occurred last month when the National Crime Agency, Warwickshire Police, and other emergency services raided the farm where the men were residing. Police released an image of a basement containing gas canisters, large plastic tubs, and containers connected to metal tubing, indicative of a clandestine laboratory.
A trial date has been set for February 2027, with the proceedings expected to last approximately one month. All five defendants have been remanded in custody.