Men caught running £360k cannabis factory jailed

Two men who were found running a cannabis factory in a renovation property have been jailed.

Police were called to Warboys High Street in Cambridgeshire on 26 August after its owner discovered the men and 300 plants inside, worth about £360,000 in drug value.

Denis Zani, 39, and Leonard Allka, 42, both of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis and abstracting electricity without authority.

They were each sentenced to nine months in prison by Cambridge Crown Court.

Cambridgeshire Police said the owner called officers after he found the pair, and using their descriptions they managed to locate Zani and Allka after they went into the village.

PC Edward McAuley said there was "clear evidence that the pair had been living inside the derelict property for some time".

"We urge members of the public to continue reporting suspicious activity to us so we can continue to tackle and dismantle cannabis factories," he added.

Police said key indicators to help people spot a property that might be used as a cannabis factory include:

• Frequent visitors at anti-social hours
• Blacked-out windows or condensation on them when it is not cold outside
• Bright lights in a room throughout the night
• A powerful, distinctive sweet aroma and noise from fans.

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