A 27-year-old man, previously deported from the UK, has had his sentencing for cannabis production delayed at Mold Crown Court.
Shahin Gjoni was discovered by Dyfed-Powys Police during a raid on an industrial unit at Vastre Industrial Estate, Newtown, on July 8. Officers had to force entry through heavily secured doors and use a circular saw to access a hidden void where Gjoni was found crouching.
Sophisticated Operation
The raid uncovered a highly professional cultivation setup. The unit featured: * 130 cannabis plants in one room. * Two additional rooms prepared for cultivation with lighting, extraction systems, and carbon filters. * An estimated potential street value of up to £72,800. * Illegally bypassed electricity supply.
Gjoni, who has a previous conviction for cannabis production, admitted to producing cannabis and breaching a deportation order. His defence argued he was a "gardener" coerced into returning to the UK due to debts. However, Recorder Paul Lewis expressed scepticism, noting there was no evidence to support the coercion claim and that Gjoni would have been aware of the scale of the operation.
Sentencing has been adjourned until September 7 to allow for further evidence regarding the basis of the plea.
Source: County Times
