Five Mexican men have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to operate a methamphetamine production facility on a remote farm in Warwickshire, England.
On Thursday, Alejandro Ambriz Dimas, 45; Victora Ramirez, 47; Fausto Beltran, 33; Lioncio Moso Borja, 37; and Jose Nunez Angolo, 44 appeared at Warwickshire Crown Court and entered not guilty pleas to the charge of conspiracy to produce methamphetamine between 6 February and 14 August 2024. The case has been adjourned, with a trial scheduled for 15 February 2025. All five defendants remain in custody.
Defendants' Claims of Legitimate Employment
The accused, all of whom are from Mexico, have denied any involvement in drug production. Their legal representatives argued that they were present on the farm for legitimate work purposes.
- Dimas, from Michoacan, was described by his lawyer as a chef employed on the farm.
- Beltran was also identified as a chef by his barrister, Paul Williams.
- Ramirez, from Sinaloa, was claimed by his lawyer, Jenny Burgess, to have been assisting with construction work on the premises.
- Burgess further stated that Ramirez had previous knowledge of methamphetamine but denied involvement in its production at the site.
The National Crime Agency alleges the men were part of a crime group operating a secret meth lab near the hamlet of Furnace End in Warwickshire. Police have described the location as a remote rural farmland setting.
Court Proceedings and Legal Details
The defendants appeared before Her Honour Judge R Campbell and were assisted by Spanish interpreters during the hearing. Ambriz Dimas entered his plea in English, while the others confirmed their identities and pleas through interpreters. Five dock officers were present during the proceedings.
The prosecution alleges the group conspired "together and with others" to produce methamphetamine at the farm. Police have released images showing a basement containing gas canisters, large plastic tubs, and metal tubing, which they state were connected to the alleged operation.
The defendants are from Culiacan in Sinaloa—a region associated with the Sinaloa Cartel—except for Dimas, who is from Michoacan. The Sinaloa Cartel, formerly led by Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, is one of Mexico’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations.
The case raises questions about the scale and organization of drug production operations in rural areas of the UK. Authorities have not disclosed additional details about the alleged conspiracy, including the exact role of each defendant or the potential size of the operation.
The next hearing is scheduled for 15 February 2025, when further evidence and arguments are expected to be presented.