Nearly 1,000 Cannabis Plants Nabbed in Hanley Warehouse Raid
Two homeless men have been jailed after police uncovered a massive cannabis farm with nearly 1,000 plants hidden inside a Stoke-on-Trent warehouse. Elvis Abazi, 24, and Valter Metkay, 34, both pleaded guilty to producing a class B drug and were sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Monday, 16 February.
Police Storm Warehouse After Smashed Window Tip-Off
The major bust unfolded on 6 December when officers responded to reports of a broken window on Lichfield Street, Hanley. Inside, they found an enormous cannabis operation in full swing, along with five bottles of fertiliser used to boost the illegal crop.
Despite desperate attempts to hide—Metkay clinging to a water tank and Abazi tucked inside it—both were caught red-handed. They stayed silent during police interviews, but the mountain of evidence sealed their fate.
Harsh Sentences for Cannabis Cultivators
- Elvis Abazi sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison
- Valter Metkay handed 2 years and 6 months behind bars
“The cultivation of cannabis is often linked to more complex and serious crime,” said Sergeant Aimee Holdcroft of Stoke-on-Trent police. “Offenders are likely part of organised crime networks and exploit vulnerable people to run these grows.”
