POLICE are hunting a suspected human trafficker who is believed to have rented a house to grow cannabis.

Officers have issued a photograph of a man who they said used a false documents to rent the house in Hope Street in Great Harwood.

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A second man is said to have been trafficked from Vietnam to grow and harvest the cannabis.

Police raided the house on Friday, February 24, and found around 100 cannabis plants, with a top end estimated street value of £50,000.

A 42-year-old man of Vietnamese origin has been arrested in relation to that offence and was in custody last night.

Now police are hunting the man who rented the property who claimed to be a 35-year-old Thai national named David Khambay.

PC Anna Gavela said: “On February 24 police were alerted to the existence of a substantial cannabis growing operation in a terraced house in Hope Street, Great Harwood.

“About 100 plants were removed from the house and it was discovered that a Vietnamese man had been living there, who had been brought into the country by a gang of human traffickers.

“One of the gang, purporting to be a 35-year-old Thai national named David Khambay had obtained the tenancy to the property by using a sophisticated false identity, which included bank statements, a forged work permit and even fake pay slips and a reference from a local well-known Chinese restaurant.

“His current whereabouts are not known and he is being sought by the police.

“It is standard procedure for these gangs to obtain tenancies in quiet residential locations, then set up cannabis farms in the premises.

“Typically, Vietnamese men are left in the properties to look after the plants.

"They are often there against their will and under the threat of harm coming to themselves and their families if they do not work for the gangs.

“Human trafficking is a terrible crime which causes untold misery and damage to the victims.

“Letting agents and landlords are urged to carefully check identity documents and references provided by prospective tenants, especially if they are moving from a different area.”

Anyone with information has been asked to call PC Anna Gavela at Great Harwood Police Station on 01254 353334 or via the non-emergency 101 line.