Pair who ran village cannabis farm are jailed

Mariglen Kodra, 29, and Bruno Nika, 39, who ran the cannabis farm at a house in Wyberton, will be deported back to their native Albania when released.

Police raided the address in Ralph's Lane in the village in June after receiving a tip-off, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Edna Leonard, prosecuting, said that officers looked through the kitchen window and saw a man asleep on the sofa.

There was a strong smell of cannabis coming from the property, he said, and when one of the men spotted the police, he tried to climb out of the bedroom window but became stuck.

Police discovered the defendants were living in the kitchen area and the drug being produced elsewhere.

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

Miss Leonard said 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.

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 took the job but was exploited because of his naivety. Once he was there, he didn't have the funds to leave."