Two illegal immigrants who helped run a large scale cannabis factory at a warehouse in the Black Country have both been sent to jail.

Hua Wang, aged 41 and Chen Ahua, 50, helped to cultivate more than 1,500 plants at the empty factory unit in Croxstalls Avenue, Walsall, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.

The pair, both of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis.

Julian Elcock, prosecuting, said the drugs factory was a “huge operation.”

“A warrant was executed by the police at the address in April,” he said. “Around 1,524 cannabis plants were discovered by officers.

“It was a huge operation. It was cannabis of the skunk variety which is of a higher strength.”

The court heard how officers found Chen, who came into the UK on the back of a lorry in 2006, hiding behind wall insulation.

Wang, also living in the UK illegally, was discovered lying on a bed in the factory.

Both men had been living at the factory.

Glyn Whitehouse, defending both men, said: “They both received £300 a week for doing the gardening work. This was a sophisticated commercial enterprise.”

Judge Nicholas Webb told the pair: “This was a very significant quantity of cannabis.

“The yield must have run into many thousands of pounds. It was a factory.

“I expect you will be deported on your release.”

Chen was given a three-year prison sentence and Wang was handed a 27-month sentence.

Judge Webb ordered the destruction of the drugs and growing equipment.