An officer who followed his nose led to Nottinghamshire Police’s largest cannabis seizure and a drugs factory worth almost £5 million being dismantled.
More than 4,800 plants, all at varying stages of maturity, were found inside a disused industrial unit on Botany Avenue, Mansfield.
Six men have now been jailed for their role in the industrial cannabis farm.
An officer from the Mansfield neighbourhood policing team was on patrol near the Bold Forester pub when he came across an overwhelming smell of cannabis coming from the neighbouring industrial estate on 2 May.
Returning the next day with support from dogs, drones, neighbourhood, response, and tactical support group officers, police launched a large operation to raid the unit.
They were forced to break into the building after finding that the property had been deliberately sealed off.
Inside, police discovered an extensive cannabis-growing operation on the first floor, with a sophisticated irrigation system, lights, fans, and CCTV cameras installed to monitor the site.
In total, 4,863 plants were seized, with an estimated street value of £4.8 million.
Officers found that significant steps had been taken to avoid detection, with entrances bricked up and boarded up, and two steel doors welded shut to make access more difficult.
The facility consisted of two large growing rooms, a drying and production area, living quarters with six beds, a kitchen, and a shower room. The electricity supply had also been dangerously bypassed.
During a search of the building, all six men attempted to hide throughout the premises before they were arrested, with one found under cardboard boxes by Police Dog Chaos.
All six men pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of Class B drugs when they appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on 2 June and were remanded into custody.
They each denied a second charge of possession with intent to supply the Class B drug, which was left to remain on file.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on 30 June, they were sentenced to a total of more than 13 years in prison.
Artu Ruqu, aged 44, of no fixed address, was jailed for three years and four months.
Ardit Gjonaj, aged 37, of Crocketts Lane, Smethwick, was jailed for three years.
Lanti Avapi, aged 45, of no fixed address, was jailed for two years.
Elton Salihasi, aged 41, of no fixed address, was jailed for two years.
Robert Ruko, aged 48, of no fixed address, was jailed for two years.
Eldis Beneri, aged 34, of no fixed address, was jailed for one year and 10 months.
DC Charles Cawthorne, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a highly organised and sophisticated criminal operation intended wholly for the onward supply of cannabis.
“This also marks the largest cannabis seizure in the force’s history—an unprecedented find on a scale never before seen in Nottinghamshire.
“The lengths taken to secure the building highlight just how determined these individuals were to conceal their criminality.
“It was all the more suspicious that this was the only building with a visible electricity supply in an area of disused units.
“Acting on good old-fashioned policing instinct, officers were drawn to the premises by the pungent smell of cannabis, and they could hear the hum of fans and running water through the walls.
“Drug production fuels serious organised crime gangs and exploits the most vulnerable in society. We will continue to take robust action against those who harm our communities.”
