Indrid Hysembelli, Xhoi Kasaj and Romeo Tosca were found hiding in the loft when officers raided the huge drug den
Posing for photos over huge piles of cannabis, they had no idea what was to come. The pictures with the mounds of drugs would soon become evidence in a court case. And the men would soon be put behind bars.
Specialist police burst in to a ‘heavily secured’ industrial building on Bilsley Street in Oldham. Inside they found a massive ‘cannabis cultivation operation’.
Around 889 cannabis plants were found inside the building. At street value, the drugs would be worth almost £1m.
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Indrid Hysembelli, Xhoi Kasaj and Romeo Tosca were found inside. They were found hiding in the loft but there was nowhere for them to run.
Police launched a probe and uncovered pictures of the men posing with the drugs. In another photo, the three men posed around a table as they enjoyed a beer.
All three are now behind bars. The cannabis farm was uncovered by officers on June 17 last year.
Alongside the massive cannabis farm, police found a ‘small living area’ inside the building, with four bunk-beds, a cooker and a fridge.
A TV was found which displayed live CCTV footage from cameras outside. An inspection found the electricity supply had been illegally bypassed and connected directly to the mains at several points, resulting in a substantial amount of electricity being drawn unlawfully.
Hysembelli, Kasaj and Tosca, who are all of Albanian decent, were all jailed after being convicted of the production of Class B drugs at Minshull Street Crown Court.
Hysembelli, 26, was jailed for three years and seven months on Monday (April 27). Kasaj, 30, was sentenced on March 23 to two years and three months. Tosca, 26, was jailed on March 23 for two years and eight months.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Christopher Brown, from GMP’s Oldham division, said: “This was a significant and highly organised cannabis cultivation operation, producing drugs valued at almost £1m and posing a serious risk to the local community. Drug dealing is not a victimless crime.
“It is closely linked to violent gang activity and the exploitation of vulnerable people – serious issues that impact communities across Greater Manchester and remain a key focus of our ongoing enforcement work.
“These sentences reflect the seriousness of the offence and send a clear message that those involved in the production and supply of illegal drugs will be identified, arrested and brought before the courts.
“We will continue to act on intelligence, execute warrants like this one and disrupt organised criminal activity wherever it operates across Greater Manchester.”
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