Six jailed after over 800 cannabis plants found in raid on derelict care home in Leeds

Six men involved in a large-scale cannabis farm discovered at a derelict care home have been jailed.

Police officers in Leeds raided the building in Moortown in December last year and located more than 800 cannabis plants which could have produced enough of the drug to give a street value of up to £446,000.

Growing equipment worth approximately £45,000, including high-powered lamps, fans and timers, were also found at Moorfield House, on Fieldhouse Walk, along with weapons including baseball bats and machetes.

The six men, all Albanian nationals, were arrested at the scene and later charged with production of cannabis.

After pleading guilty at an earlier hearing, they were sentenced on Thursday at Leeds Crown Court as follows:

• Alitor Deda, 30, Andi Teta, 33, and Ali Qerfozi, 42, were all sentenced to two years in prison

• Erijon Gjoka, 21, was sentenced to 18 months

• Edison Markeci, 21, and Agostin Marku, 36, received 16-month sentences

Sgt Simon Green from West Yorkshire Police said: “This was a large-scale cannabis farm which was clearly being run as part of an organised criminal enterprise.

“Our operation has stopped nearly half a million pounds worth of the drug reaching the streets, where this illegal trade fuels associated crime and anti-social behaviour," he said.

“We will be continuing to work closely with our partner agencies to target and disrupt this type of organised criminality to keep our communities safe."

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