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A gardener was discovered at a sophisticated cannabis factory with more than 130 plants which was housed in an old fancy dress shop. The cannabis grower had travelled to the UK from Albania after being “seduced” on the internet.
Amet Muca, 22, was found living at the cannabis factory in Upper Clifton Street, Cardiff, on January 31 where cannabis was being grown on an “industrial scale”. When officers arrived at the premises they discovered it had been sealed with a wooden panel wall and expanding foam.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard there was a large industrial extractor fan on the roof of the former shop in Roath and upon entering the premises there were a number of cannabis plants being grown. Prosecutor Sarah Iles said the defendant attempted to escape by climbing out of an open window.
He was detained and arrested and a total of 136 cannabis plants were seized from four rooms. The total value of the plants were between £21,760 and £84,480. Among the equipment discovered was a high-wattage bulb, industrial carbon filters, and plant feed that costs several thousand pounds. Ms Iles said the operation was capable of producing multiple kilos of cannabis within 12 weeks.
In his police interview Muca said he paid £5,000 to be smuggled into the UK and was taken to the cannabis factory where he spent six weeks. The defendant said the factory was already established when he arrived and he played no part in setting it up. He was told if he grew cannabis his debt for entering the UK would be satisfied and was given instructions in Albanian on how to grow the plants.
Amet Muca was acting as a gardener at a cannabis factory with 136 cannabis plants in Upper Clifton Street, Cardiff.
(Image: South Wales Police)
Muca, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of cannabis. He is of previous good character.
In mitigation Neil Evans said his client had been “seduced by how fantastic western Europe was” on the internet and “grew up dreaming of having that opulence” compared to the conditions he experienced in Albania. Upon arriving in the UK he realised it wasn’t as fantastic a lifestyle as he believed and he wished to be deported back to Albania as soon as possible.
Judge Shoman Khan sentenced Muca to a total of eight months imprisonment. He will likely be deported upon the completion of his sentence.
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“}]] Amet Muca, 22, was found living at the cannabis factory in Upper Clifton Street, Cardiff, which contained 136 plants Read More