Gardener tending 600 drug plants
CANNABIS WAS FOUND WHEN POLICE RAIDED FORMER CARPET SHOWROOM
A CANNABIS farmer who tried to escape police by running off across a roof was found hiding in a bush.
Police found 628 plants at a former carpet shop in Leicester Road, Wigston, in a “significant and sophisticated” growing operation that Aurel Cahani was due to be paid £1,000 to water for a month.
The Albanian national, who had come to England three years earlier to work in the construction industry, had been struggling to get work and was approached by a man in a cafe in London who offered him the job.
He came to Leicestershire to live rent-free in the house with his food paid for while he watered the cannabis plants, which were illuminated by more than 100 powerful lamps.
Police officers raided the property early on June 11.
Leicester Crown Court heard Cahani was in charge of plants capable of producing about £300,000 worth of cannabis.
Mizan Abdulrouf, representing Cahani, said: “He agreed to come because he needed the money.
“It was £1,000, living rent free and his food would be provided for.
“While in London he was low on money and in a desperate situation and this is the reason he accepted to come to Leicester to perform this role.
“The only role he had was to water the plants and he said he didn’t know the size of the operation and when he got here he was scared.
“He will think twice before accepting a job from anyone in a cafeteria again.”
Judge Keith Raynor told Cahani: “You came here three years ago for a better life. You worked in construction but that work dried up.
“You were offered a job to come to Leicester. You knew it was for a criminal purpose to do with cannabis.
“You expected to receive £1,000 after one month’s work. It was a significant and sophisticated grow with 628 plants.”
He jailed Cahani, of no fixed address, for 30 months and ordered him to pay a £190 victim surcharge.
The judge said that unless he made an appeal to stay in the UK he would be deported to Albania by the Home Office after the sentence was up.