‘Gardener’ admits growing cannabis in city

A drug cultivator has admitted growing cannabis after police found 900 plants and equipment worth £1m at a house in Cardiff.

Vezir Faqolli, 32, pleaded guilty to producing the Class B drug following the raid in Newport Road last month, during which officers also found cash and a machete.

His case was listed before Judge Richard Williams at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday.

Faqolli, who does not have a fixed address, entered his guilty plea on the basis he was “a gardener” – which was not accepted by the Crown.

The charge relates to the period between September 1 last year and April 25 this year.

South Wales Police confirmed they seized cannabis and growing equipment thought to be worth around £1m, along with cash and a machete.

A spokeswoman said officers in plain clothes were on patrol in Roath, Cardiff, when they were called to a property in Newport Road. They were met by an overwhelming smell of cannabis and the windows had been covered in plastic. Equipment associated with cannabis production could be seen through a back window.

His counsel, John Pennington, said: “The defendant maintains he was what is commonly known as a gardener and that he performed a limited function under direction.”

John Lloyd, prosecuting, said: “There are Facebook posts showing him enjoying himself in a way perhaps a gardener would not.”

The case was listed for a trial of issue next month.

Faqolli did not make an application for bail and was remanded in custody until June 21, with any time spent on remand counting towards his eventual sentence.