An Albanian crime gang was using a Neath house as a base for its cannabis growing and distribution business, a court has heard. Four men were arrested at the property - one after fleeing through an upstairs window - and police seized more than £14,000 worth of the harvested drug along with a stash of passports.
Officers also recovered a number of mobile phones, and though the text messages contained on them were in Albanian the pictures, selfies and videos recovered were of interest. Jim Davis, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that on October 18 this year officers from South Wales Police's organised crime team went to a property on Payne Street in the Melin area of Neath looking for a suspect as part of an investigation into a non-drug matter.
Their knocks on the door were eventually answered by Elton Musta, and after they explained why they were there they entered the house. The court heard that as officers were going in through the front door a man was seen to climb out of a rear first-floor window and onto a flat roof before jumping to the floor and running off through gardens. The fleeing man - subsequently identified as Ledian Xhafa - was caught by officers stationed at the end of the street.
.jpg?w=600)
