Three men who acted as gardeners of a £250,000 cannabis factory set up in a former South Cumbria nightclub have been jailed.
Police were initially contacted on October 7 after a passer-by reported a strong smell of the drug outside the derelict Millom venue — known as The Ritz — on Crown Street.
Carlisle Crown Court heard today how officers executed a warrant two days later.
Present inside were Albanian nationals Emiljano Marku, and Geg Gjegjaj, both aged 21, and 23-year-old Trandafilos Mhilli.
Six rooms on the first floor and two rooms on the floor above had been converted for the production of cannabis. There was a single crop comprising 297 plants, all at the same stage of growth and all 1.2 to 1.3 metres tall.
Photographs showed the cannabis factory set-up with fertiliser being used, significant rewiring of electricity at the property and other equipment, including lights and timers, in place.
The estimated yield of the crop was between 8.3kg and 24.9kg with a potential street value of £83,000 at the lower end, up to £250,000. “It is plain that these men were performing a role, under direction, as gardeners,” said prosecutor Andrew Evans.
All three admitted being concerned in cannabis production after being brought to court.
During their sentencing hearing, defence lawyers told how all three men were transported by taxi to Millom. Only on arrival did they realise the nature of the illegal work they were being asked to do, and then did for a number of months, the court heard.
Jeff Smith said Marku and Mhilli had arrived in the UK at different times hoping to raise their standard of living. “During the relatively short period of time, they were ‘employed’ in Millom, they received no money and were simply fed and provided with a roof over their heads,” said Mr Smith.
Geg had found himself in debt to — and intimidated by — people smugglers who had arranged his passage to the UK.
Passing sentence, Recorder Michael Blakey told the trio, each of no fixed abode: “It clearly was an operation capable of producing significant quantities of cannabis.”
He added: “You were taken advantage of by criminals more sophisticated than you and effectively put to work in Millom on this cannabis farm.”
The men each received immediate nine-month jail terms.
