Two Albanian men who entered the UK illegally have been jailed after being caught tending a cannabis farm in Sunderland. Police were alerted to a suspected drugs production operation on High Street, Easington Lane, in July and attended to investigate.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that officers found the back door of a property unlocked and noticed the electricity meter had been bypassed, with two air vents protruding from the roof. In various growing areas, a total of 270 cannabis plants were discovered.
Arrests and court proceedings
Elton Rustemi was found watering plants, while Adriatik Cela was discovered hiding in a loft, and both were arrested. Cela later told police he had been in the UK for 20 days after being brought here illegally in the back of a lorry.
Cela, who represented himself, said through an interpreter: "I do apologise to this court for my offence. My role was to water the plants and I had been there 20 days and was going to be there another 20 days. After that I was going to start work in construction."
Defence statements
Tony Cornberg, for Rustemi, said he arrived in this country illegally, hidden in a car, and expects to be deported. He added: "He had come willingly, seeking a better life. Without any work available to him he was offered some work by some fellow Albanians. They got him to the venue and left some food there."
"He says he never saw these people again. He was told to stay in the house and food would be delivered there. He was there for one to one-and-a-half months and he said his role was watering and feeding the plants. The cannabis farm already existed before he got involved. He said 'I'm sorry for the offence I've committed, I came here for a better life and to help my family'."
Sentences and deportation
Rustemi, 40, and Cela, 49, of no fixed address, who both have no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis and were each jailed for 12 months. They are both likely to be deported by the Home Office.
