Police found a huge cannabis factory at a disused pub where 1,020 plants were being secretly grown as part of a sophisticated commercial operation.
The two men who were looking after and watering the cannabis plants were discovered hiding in the loft at the premises. The electricity had been bypassed so that the 100 600-watt bulbs that were being used did not arouse the suspicions of the power company because of high usage, Hull Crown Court heard.
Defrim Dani, 27, and Altin Raska, 30, of no fixed address, admitted being concerned in producing cannabis on February 17.
Maya Hanson, prosecuting, said that police executed a search warrant at the empty pub premises of the East Riding Hotel in Cannon Street, Hull, after suspecting that cannabis was being grown there. The building was filled with young cannabis plants.
Across five separate locations, 1,020 cannabis plants were seized. They were all at early stages of growth and were about 12cm high. They could potentially have produced 56kg of cannabis. There were also 100 600-watt bulbs and it was discovered that the electricity had been bypassed and power from the mains supply was being used illegally.
“Both defendants were found hiding in the loft space of the property and there were arrested at the scene at 9.05am,” said Miss Hanson. Dani told police that his role was to water the plants for one night only and that he was to be paid £100 for this.
Raska claimed that he was there to tend the plants and he would be paid £1,500 for five days.
He claimed that he met a man in London and he was offered the opportunity. His role was to put soil in the pots. He refused to provide the PIN for a mobile phone.
Join our WhatsApp Community for the latest crime news
Benjamin Donnell, mitigating, said that both men were from Albania and were in this country illegally. “It’s very much their intention to go back to Albania, as soon as it is permissible for them to do so,” said Mr Donnell.
“They are both remorseful for the part they played in this cannabis grow, although it’s limited.” Both men had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty at an early stage.
Dani and Raska, who were both in custody on remand, were each jailed for 10 months.
Recorder Mark McKone KC told the men: “You are both Albanian nationals who came to the UK illegally. You were both found hiding in a loft at a disused public house. This operation was capable of producing significant amounts of cannabis for commercial use.”