Two men found inside a cannabis factory at a former nightclub when police officers raided the premises were jailed for a total of 44 months imprisonment at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday, 29 March.
Blerim Daci, aged 28, (dob: 05.06.87), of no fixed abode, and Elidon Leka, aged 26, (dob: 22.1.90), also of no fixed abode, were convicted of being concerned in the production of cannabis - a Class B controlled drug - at earlier hearings.
Blerim Daci, aged 28, (dob: 05.06.87), of no fixed abode, and Elidon Leka, aged 26, (dob: 22.1.90), also of no fixed abode, were convicted of being concerned in the production of cannabis - a Class B controlled drug - at earlier hearings.
Daci was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120 after changing his plea from not guilty to guilty without a jury being sworn in and Leka was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100 after pleading guilty.
Police discovered a large cannabis factory when they carried out a drugs warrant on the premises, formerly known as Alley Cats and the Basement Night Club, in Carshalton Road on Tuesday, 10 November at 14:20hrs.
When officers entered through a re-enforced front door they found around 50-60 fully mature plants hanging from ceiling supports above the former dance floor. Officers also found makeshift living accommodation at the premises.
The building had been going through extensive construction work last year which had not been progressed since.
This operation was run by Sutton Central Safer Neighbourhoods Team.
PC Paul Arnold, who led the investigation, said: “Officers worked well to gather the evidence from a building where the inside had been ripped out and left in a hazardous condition. Our operation kept a huge quantity of drugs - worth around £170,000 - from reaching local streets.”