Two men have appeared in court after police discovered a large-scale cannabis grow comprising 600 plants in a residential street in Daybrook.
Officers attended a derelict warehouse in Edwin Street at 12.20pm on Tuesday (27 February) after concerns were raised about cables that were spotted bypassing an electric meter – posing a fire risk.
Officers gained entry to the property and found a substantial grow spread over four large rooms.
Moments later, an officer spotted two men on the roof. They jumped down and ran but were quickly detained.
The plants, with a potential street value of more than £500,000, were removed from the site and an array of sophisticated growing equipment was seized.
Ervis Llani, aged 20, of no fixed address, and 27-year-old Xhuljan Stafaj, of Edwin Street, Daybrook, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (29 February 2024) charged with production of cannabis and using electricity without consent.
They were remanded in custody and are next due to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on March 28.
Gedling neighbourhood policing inspector Mark Stanley said: “Commercial cannabis grows of this sort can cause serious harm in our communities and have a huge negative impact on residents.
“Tackling and preventing drug harm is a priority for the force and we will continue to act on the concerns of our communities to disrupt criminality.
“The cultivation of cannabis also brings dangers to neighbouring properties because set-ups such as this one can pose a serious fire risk.
“Individuals who operate these farms often tamper with the meters to steal electricity, and there will generally be a number of hot lamps hooked to overloaded sockets.
“Grows on this scale can also be linked to other serious offences involving violence and exploitation so I’m pleased we managed to dismantle this illegal enterprise and it’s another demonstration of how we will take action against those suspected to be involved in this kind of harmful activity.”
