Illegal migrants jailed after police discover cannabis farm

Two illegal migrants from Albania have been jailed after police discovered a cannabis farm when they raided a house in Wyberton near Boston.

Officers went to the address in Ralph’s Lane in the village last month after receiving a tip-off.

Edna Leonard, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court that officers looked through the kitchen window and saw a man asleep on the sofa.

She said: “There was a strong smell of cannabis coming from the property.

“When one of the men inside saw the police, he tried to climb out of the bathroom window but got stuck.

“When the police entered the premises it was clear that the defendants had been living in the kitchen area of the house.

“Cannabis was being cultivated on a commercial scale. Two of the downstairs rooms had been used for the growing of cannabis and two of the upstairs rooms as well.”

Miss Leonard said that a total of 120 plants were found, which were capable of producing between £20,000 and £72,000 worth of cannabis.

The two men found inside the property were both arrested and in court both pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis.

Mariglen Kodra, 29, and Bruno Nika, 39, who were both living at the house in Ralph’s Lane, Wyberton, were each jailed for two years and face deportation when they are released.

The court was told both men were illegal migrants from Albania.

David Eager, for Kodra, said his client lost his job as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown and was offered work as a gardener looking after the cannabis plants.

He was transported from London to Lincolnshire with the promise of £300 a month wages plus a 25% share of the profits from the enterprise.

“The reality is that it was an empty promise. He was being exploited.”

Terry Boston, for Nika, said he was left with no income and unable to claim benefits because of his immigration status.

He said Nika was also promised a share of the profits as well as a wage.

He said: “He took the job but was exploited because of his naivety. Once he was there he didn’t have the funds to leave.”
