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Italian man Stefan Nardi hunted by Kent Police over county's largest ever cannabis factory in Dartford office block

10:00, 25 September 2013

updated: 10:15, 25 September 2013

Stefan Nardi is wanted over a huge cannabis factory
Stefan Nardi is wanted over a huge cannabis factory

Police have today released a picture of a man they want to speak to in connection with the largest cannabis factory ever found in Kent.

Officers investigating the discovery of drugs worth up to £4million in a Dartford office block want to find Stefan Nardi, who claims to be 37 and Italian.

The huge haul was believed to be one of the largest single discoveries of the class B drug in Britain.

DS Richard Spicer, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "We have been following up several lines of inquiry following the discovery of this multi-million pound cannabis production in Dartford.

"We have released an image of a man who goes under the name of Stefan Nardi, although this could well be an alias.

"If you know this man, or have any information about his whereabouts, I'd urge you to contact us."

A tip-off from a member of the public led to the discovery of the industrial-size drugs operation on Monday, August 26.

Someone was spotted clambering through a window of St Lawrence House, an empty office block in West Hill, at around 4am.

A huge cannabis factory was uncovered at a Dartford office block
A huge cannabis factory was uncovered at a Dartford office block
Police uncovered a cannabis farm in Dartford after a tip-off
Police uncovered a cannabis farm in Dartford after a tip-off

When officers arrived, they found around 6,000 cannabis plants - worth up to £4million at street value.

DS Spicer was one of the first at the scene. He said at the time: "It was the biggest drugs factory I've ever come across in my career, and it was an incredibly professional set up.

"They had evidently been building the business up for a long time, and knew exactly what they were doing."

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A large police presence at the derelict building in Dartford
A large police presence at the derelict building in Dartford
Police raided St Lawrence House in Dartford
Police raided St Lawrence House in Dartford

The office block was kitted out with extensive lighting and ventilation equipment.

The electricity had been hacked into via the meter and was being used illegally.

Nardi is believed to have links to the Deptford area of London.

Anyone with information is urged to phone Kent Police on 01474 366258, quoting CAD 26-0284, or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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