Albanian man faces deportation over £106,000 Barrow cannabis farm
An Albanian man could be deported after he was caught working inside a large cannabis farm in Barrow.
The growing operation contained cannabis with an estimated value of up to £106,000. The man has now been sentenced for his role in producing the Class B drug.
Failed asylum seeker found at cannabis farm
The court heard that the defendant was considered a failed asylum seeker and had no settled right to remain in the UK.
He was found looking after the plants after police uncovered the professional growing operation in Barrow.
Cannabis farms of this type often use powerful lights, fans and other equipment to create the conditions needed to grow plants indoors. They can also pose a serious fire risk when electricity supplies are bypassed or altered.
Cannabis valued at up to £106,000
The plants found inside the property were estimated to be worth as much as £106,000 once ready for sale.
The court treated the operation as commercial rather than a small grow intended for personal use.
The defendant’s role was linked to caring for the plants. People used as cannabis “gardeners” may be placed inside properties for long periods and told to water plants, manage equipment and protect the crop.
Deportation could follow sentence
The man now faces possible deportation to Albania after completing his sentence.
However, deportation is a separate immigration process and does not necessarily happen immediately after a criminal court hearing. The reports state that he faces deportation, rather than confirming that he has already been removed from the country.
The discovery is the latest cannabis growing operation to be uncovered in Barrow, where police have previously found large numbers of plants hidden inside residential and commercial buildings.
