THE largest cannabis factory ever discovered in Dorset was unearthed on a Purbeck industrial estate – with more than 2,000 plants on the site.
The operation at Sandford Lane Industrial Estate in Wareham had a potential crop yield of between £2.3million and £7.1million.
A hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on January 29 was told the factory was “organised and professional”, with the capability of “producing industrial quantities for commercial use”.
Police’s attention was drawn to the site after a member of the public, who believed a burglary was taking place, reported concerns about a suspicious vehicle coming to and from the units in December 2019.
Officers attended and located a van matching the description. The driver was arrested on suspicion of going equipped for stealing due to items found in the vehicle.
Prosecuting, Mary Aspinall-Miles said: “As a result of his arrest, police officers obtained a search warrant for the industrial unit and on December 27, 2019, they forced entry and once they were inside it obvious it was a substantial industrial scale cannabis growing factory.”
She said it was described by all as a “very professional set-up”.
She added: “Leonard Bruci and Arber Aliaj were located within the premises and both were arrested for being concerned in the production of cannabis.”
Bruci, 27, and Aliaj, 23, both Albanian nationals, admitted being concerned in the production of cannabis on a basis and were sentenced to two years and three months in prison.
Sentencing judge Recorder Gordon Bebb QC said: “The units were converted for express purpose of producing cannabis. The concern was organised and professional.It was on a very large scale.
"You were the hands-on part of the team tasked with growing the cannabis and looking after the plants.
“As part of the operation you had been supplied with mobile phones to ensure the smooth running of the operation.
“When the police arrived there were over 2,000 plants in the factory. It is estimated that was a street value of between £600,000 and £1.8million. There was potential crop yield of between £2.3million and £7.1million.”
He added: “When the police discovered it was clearly well established and had been running for many months. The police described it as the largest production unit that they had found in Dorset.
“The operation was capable of producing industrial quantities for commercial use.”
The court heard Bruci, of unknown address, pleaded guilty as a male worker who was coerced or intimidated or pressured into working at the cannabis farm. Aliaj, of no fixed abode, came to work there because he needed to pay off those who had lent him money when he came to the United Kingdom in the first place.
“The fact is you both came to this country as illegal immigrants to make money,” said Recorder Gebb QC.
“It may have cost you money to come here in the back of a lorry but you clearly would not have come if you believed it was not worth your while financially – that you could earn enough to pay your debts and set yourself up financially.”
The judge said he was sure both defendants did not end up in their roles at the drug operation by chance.
He also said a modern slavery defence did not apply for them.
“You had a choice,” said the judge. “You chose to work illegally and when all is said and done you could have responsibly refused to take part in this exercise. In respect of both of you, I have no doubt that the offence is so serious that only a prison sentence is justified.”
Mitigating for Aliaj, Jamie Porter said his client was extremely remorseful for agreeing to work at the cannabis farm but his circumstances were such that he felt he had no option.
Mr Porter said: “He has learnt his lesson and I am sure you will appreciate he will not have paid off the entirety of his transportation debt and that will hang over him.”
Representing Bruci, Ellie Fargin said he had always been very frank about his offending, making admissions such as “well, I did these things”.
She said his time in custody to date had caused stress and anxiety to both him and members of his family in Albania.
The judge said he sentenced the pair on the basis of a lesser role in that they were tending and growing the plants.
Due to the period remanded in custody, both defendants are now due to be released in a matter of weeks once they reach the halfway point of their sentence.
The court was told both are set to be deported once they leave prison.
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