Dealer kept £10k drug farm in his loft
ADRUG dealer who stashed bags full of cocaine and cannabis in his bedroom and kitchen has been locked up.
Adam Bezzina kept a sophisticated cannabis farm in his loft – with a street value of more than £10,000.
The 22-year-old stole more than £1,000 worth of electricity to power the farm, which was decked out with timers, plant food, specialist lighting and ventilation ducting.
When officers from GMP’s City of Manchester Challenger Unit examined his phone during the raid, in December 2016, they found scores of messages requesting drugs.
In his bedroom, a bag of white powder – containing 38.7g of cocaine at 67 per cent purity – was seized along with a large, black bag of cannabis. Two further bags, stuffed full of cannabis, were also seized from the kitchen.
A large machete, empty snap bags, a debtors list, a set of scales and £1,450 in cash were also found in the house.
When questioned by officers in police interview, Bezzina replied ‘no comment’ throughout however, on his return to the police station, after being on bail for almost three months, he admitted his crimes.
Bezzina, of Queensway, was sentenced to twoand-a-half years jail at Manchester Crown Court.
He pleaded guilty to possession of Class A drugs with the intent to supply, possession of Class A drugs, production of Class B drugs, abstracting electricity and possession of criminal property at an earlier hearing. A proceeds of crime hearing is due to take place.
Det Con Adam Cronshaw of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: “Cannabis farms are a lucrative form of illegal income, especially when the electricity meter is being bypassed.
“Added to this, was the amount of cocaine we seized from Bezzina’s house, which was no doubt intended for onward supply, far in excess of the amount considered for personal use.
“People like Bezzina exploit some of the most vulnerable people in our society who are involved in the vicious circle of drugs and they need to be stopped and brought to justice.
“I cannot stress the importance that those who profit from drugs need to be disrupted, prevented from carrying out their illicit business ventures and brought to justice.”