A father-of-three became a gardener to an extremely valuable cannabis farm after he said he was approached by men who spoke the same language. Bert Gaxha, who came here from Albania, had been asked by the men to look after the cannabis - potentially worth £216,000, if sold in one-gram deals.
Nottingham Crown Court heard on Monday, March 28, Gaxha, of Lime Tree Avenue, Broxtowe, was discovered in the property alone hiding in one of the upstairs bedrooms on December 7, 2021. He was free to come and go as he pleased.
Five growing areas were found housing 258 plants in a house which was, "turned over to a drugs factory on a commercial scale," explained Stuart Pattinson, prosecuting. Cropped cannabis was in a vacuum-sealed bag.
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Mitigating, Roger Wilson said 41-year-old Gaxha has no previous convictions and came to this country on a visa legally after he worked in Albania in the building trade. Then he was given the opportunity by someone he met to have a house with cannabis in.
Watering and feeding the plants was his only instruction. Gaxha has a mother, three young boys and a wife, and is, "extremely tearful when talking about his family," added Mr Wilson. "He hasn't seen them for a while since he moved to the UK". He was living in the property for four to six weeks.
Judge Mark Watson jailed Gaxha for 12 months after he had pleaded guilty to producing cannabis, telling him he sentenced him on the basis he was, "simply a gardener", and had no personal interest in drugs. He told Gaxha he would serve half of the custodial term and the remainder on licence.
