£2.6 Million Cannabis Farm Bust in Lancashire
Three men have been locked up after police found one of Lancashire’s biggest cannabis factories worth a whopping £2.6million. The trio were sentenced today at Preston Crown Court, totalling just over 10 years behind bars.
Details of the Cannabis Operation and Sentences
- Aurel Gjuzi, 25, jailed for 3 years
- Sulejman Lloni, 32, jailed for 54 months
- Jacek Pieczur, 25, jailed for 3 years
All three were convicted for producing a Class B drug. The giant cannabis grow was uncovered in units at the Apex Trading Estate, Darwen, on October 8th, 2019.
Officers discovered 4,537 plants at various growth stages plus 27kg of dried cannabis. The haul is valued at £2,606,620 on the streets.
How Police Cracked the Case
The men were living on site at Lower Eccleshill Road when police raided. They found £2,425 cash and several mobile phones. The grow operation was powered by illegal underground cables, causing a major power outage that took Electricity Northwest 13 hours to fix.
After dismantling the farm, the police donated equipment like lamps, reflectors, bulbs, transformers, and temperature gauges to Blackpool Zoo.
Police and Officials Warn Against Crime
“This is believed to be one of the largest cannabis farms ever found in Lancashire,” said DC Vicky Heys of East CID. “The sentences send a clear message to gangs that these crimes won’t be tolerated.”
Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, added: “This sends a strong message that police have the skills and resources to take down organised crime. The public should be reassured that serious investigations like this happen regularly and yield real results.”
