Drug farm seizure hits crime group

A DETECTIVE chief inspector has said the seizure of an £820,000 cannabis farm in Gateshead has caused “significant disruption” to an organised crime group.

Three men were convicted after the drugs factory, which contained nearly 2,000 fully mature plants, was uncovered by officers on the Team Valley Trading Estate on February 20.

The farm was seized, dismantled and destroyed but not before drug experts at Northumbria Police calculated it to be worth £820,000.

Last week, Fatlum Alija, 27, and Fatbardh Selimi, 42, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court and were jailed for two years, while Agim Isufi, 19, was sent to a Young Offenders Institute for 20 months.

Following the case, detective chief inspector Jamie Pitt said: “The seizure of this cannabis farm has caused significant disruption and financial loss to what was clearly the work of an organised crime group and that is down to the hard work and professionalism of the neighbourhood policing team.

“Officers on patrol have noticed the strong smell while on their patrols, they have spoken to businesses in the area and then identified the warehouse in question.

“Their tenacity has uncovered what we believe to be a multimillion pound cannabis operation and I am incredibly proud of everyone involved in bringing these men to court.

“They knew what they were doing was illegal and they must now face the consequences.

“If you have information about any criminal activity then we would ask you to get in touch.”

Isufi, Selimi and Alija, all of no fixed abode, face deportation when they are eventually released from custody.