Three men caught working for an organised crime group in an industrial-scale cannabis farm in a former school building have been ordered to each pay £1 following a proceeds of crime investigation. Albanians Armeld Troksi, Njazi Gjana, and Ervin Gjana were working as so-called “gardeners” in the drug production operation in an abandoned primary school in Llandysul, Ceredigion, when police officers raided the property in November last year.
Troksi was found hiding in a toilet, Njazi Gjana ran off down a corridor but was chased and caught while Ervin Gjana managed to exit the building and flee into the countryside leading to a search involving ground units and a drone in the air.
He was caught later the same day, “soaking wet and covered in bramble scratches”, walking along the road towards Pencader. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter
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Swansea Crown Court had previously heard how the cannabis operation involved some 737 plants growing in seven rooms with accompanying lights, heaters, ventilation, and a watering system.
Another 82 already-harvested plants were found hanging up in a “drying room” in the school. Police also found a living area stocked with “a large mount of food” and which had washed clothes hanging up to dry.
(Left to right) Njazi Gjana, Ervin Gjana, and Armeld Troksi
In January this year Armeld Troksi, 29, of Empire Avenue, Edmonton, London, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, Njazi Gjana, 27, also of of Empire Avenue, Edmonton, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison, and 24-year-old Ervin Gjana, of Durham Avenue, Romford, London, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years after all three pleaded guilty to producing cannabis.
The crime gang behind the Llandysul drugs factory has not been identified.
When the case came back to court for a proceeds of crime hearing Brian Simpson, prosecuting, told the court that the benefit figure for the criminal conduct was £458,000 but financial investigators had been unable to identify any assets belonging to the defendants. He invited the court to make nominal £1 confiscation orders.
The defendants were not legally represented but the court heard their previous solicitors had emailed the court to say the confiscation orders would not be challenged.
Speaking through an Albanian interpreter judge Paul Thomas KC asked the defendants – who were appearing via videolink from Swansea Prison – whether they understood what the prosecution was seeking.
The defendants said they did. To double-check, the judge asked the defendants to raise their hands if they understood the figures involved.
The three defendants raised their hands.
Judge Thomas made the orders the requested and set seven days in prison in default of payment for each defendant.