A diver allegedly turned his rental home in Adliya into a major, fully-equipped marijuana factory, the High Criminal Court heard yesterday.
The 51-year-old American, along with two businessmen, is on trial for setting up the cannabis farm and preparing specialised rooms in the two-storey house for all stages of growing and producing the drug with an estimated market value of BD1 million.
“The defendants were responsible for furnishing the residence with many planters and vessels of different sizes in which the appropriate type of soil was placed,” read the charges.
“In addition, they procured the required tools and materials and set up necessary lighting and ventilation to grow these narcotic-producing plants.
“They planted them in the pots and cultivated them all the way to the harvesting stage, after which they dried and packaged them in preparation to sell them.”
The three defendants were also charged with isolating the potent part of the plant for commercial purposes.
However, they denied planting and selling the cannabis as they appeared before judges yesterday.
The American defendant was also accused of giving marijuana to his Bahraini co-defendants, aged 48 and 53, free of charge.
Two more Bahraini men are standing trial alongside the first three; a 27-year-old is accused of selling and using drugs while a 29-year-old faces only drug use charges.
“The first defendant (American) led an operation to grow, promote and sell narcotics in Bahrain for profit,” a detective earlier told the Public Prosecution.
“He got friends of his nationality to bring him seeds, then he grew them in his house, and took care of them until they had matured and were ready to harvest.
“After that, he dried the plants and began the process of selling his stock, seeking the assistance of the second, third and fourth defendants to promote the wares.
“He transferred a part of the revenue overseas, particularly to Georgia and Russia.”
The detective added that the 48-year-old co-defendant assisted the American in growing the cannabis, helping him organise and put together equipment as necessary.
The 48-year-old was charged with giving the narcotics to the 27-year-old, and another individual not implicated in the case, in exchange for services, which he denied.
Meanwhile, the 51-year-old alleged ringleader admitted to using his own output for recreational purposes, while the 27-year-old admitted to using synthetic cannabinoids and methamphetamine.
The 29-year-old denied possessing synthetic cannabinoids, marijuana and tramadol for recreational use.
The GDN previously reported the Interior Ministry as saying that the five men were arrested when police raided the Adliya property following a tip-off about the alleged operation.
In the rental, authorities found what appeared to be a cannabis factory, growing drugs with a market value of more than BD1m.
The operation allegedly started in 2019 until the matter was exposed in 2025.
The hearing was adjourned to April 29 for defence arguments.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has urged members of the public to report any suspicious activity via email 996@interior.gov.bh or the hotline (996) or operations room hotline (999); confidentially is guaranteed.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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