Three Albanian men have appeared in court after almost 300 cannabis plants with an estimated potential yield of £118,000 were found inside a derelict south Cumbrian nightclub.
Police confirmed on Sunday that three men had been arrested following the execution of a warrant at a property on Crown Street in Millom, and the subsequent discovery of a cannabis farm.
“Investigative activity remains ongoing as police conduct enquiries at the scene,” a force spokesman had said.
Three men appeared at North Cumbria Magistrates’ Court in Carlisle yesterday, October 11. They were Emiljano Marku and Geg Gjegjaj, both 21, and 23-year-old Trandafilos Mhilli.
All face a joint charge which alleges they were concerned in the production of a class B controlled drug on October 9.
The three defendants were assisted by an interpreter — who attended court remotely over a video link — during a hearing which lasted 15 minutes.
Standing together in the court dock, they spoke to confirm their names and dates of birth. In turn the men — all wearing light grey jumpers — also stated they had no fixed addresses, and that they would not be entering pleas to the charge at this stage.
Prosecutor Pam Ward gave a brief outline of events which unfolded on Sunday. “The (alleged) offences came to light as police searched a derelict nightclub in Millom. Police found a total of 297 cannabis plants being cultivated in the nightclub. The three defendants were found to be present,” she said.
A detective had estimated the approximate value of the cannabis plants recovered to be around £118,000.
After hearing more detail, magistrates declined jurisdiction of the case and sent it to Carlisle Crown Court.
All three defendants will appear there in front of a judge on November 11, when they are due to enter pleas to the allegation.
In the meantime, they were remanded in custody by the magistrates.
Issuing a public appeal on Sunday, a Cumbria police spokesman had said: “If you have information on illegal drug activity, please contact police by reporting your information online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it or call 101. Alternatively, you can report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
