Six jailed over county's largest ever cannabis seizure

Six men have been jailed for their roles in running a "sophisticated" drugs factory that led to the largest ever seizure of cannabis by Nottinghamshire Police.

Nottingham Crown Court heard officers forced their way into a "fortified" warehouse in Botany Avenue, Mansfield, on 3 May, after acting on a strong smell of cannabis and hearing people inside the building.

They discovered almost 5,000 plants with an estimated street value of between £1m and £3m.

Lanti Avapi, Artu Ruqu, Eldis Beneri, Elton Salihasi, Robert Ruko, all of no fixed address, and Ardit Gjonaj, of Crocketts Lane, Smethwick, all pleaded guilty to one count of being concerned in the production of a Class B drug.

Sentencing the men on Tuesday, Judge James Sampson called the factory an "extremely large and sophisticated commercial operation" inside a "fortified" premises, which had bricked-up entrances and CCTV.

The court heard the men lived in "cramped" and "unsanitary conditions" with "no personal hygiene beyond a sink".

The judge said: "The scale and sophistication of the operation must have been obvious."

However, he accepted each defendant "played a lesser role" in the operation and were not likely to have had a "managerial or directing function".

Avapi, 45, was sentenced to 24 months in prison; Ruqu, 44, was jailed for 36 months; Beneri, 34, was sentenced to 22 months; Salihasi, 41, was jailed for 24 months; Ruko, 48, was sentenced to 24 months, and Gjonaj, 37, was jailed for 32 months.

The court heard 3,928 plants were found in three growing areas, and the potential yield of the plants was between 110kg and 330kg, with a monetary value of between £1m and £3m.

A further 935 plants were found in a "drying area" but these were not valued by officers.

The court heard the plants were "healthy and well-maintained" and that the operation showed a "high level of expertise and planning".

Insp Katie Eustace, district commander for Mansfield, told the BBC officers had been alerted to the possibility of the farm after getting a "strong smell" of cannabis while patrolling in nearby Sutton Road.

Officers returned the next day and found a building with "sealed entrances".

On closer inspection, Eustace said officers noticed movement inside and could hear people, so called for back-up units. The defendants were arrested in the building.

Nottinghamshire Police said the factory was the force's largest ever cannabis seizure - surpassing 4,049 plants found in Basford in 2017.

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