Cannabis factory located worth over half a million pound by East Area Drugs Focus Desk.

A Misuse of Drugs warrant was executed at a premises called ‘Discoteca No Problem’ in Ilford last year. The building had previously been used as a club, but was now believed to be a cannabis factory.

When officers from the Drugs Focus Desk gained entry through the back of the premises, they found three doors all padlocked and chained and no person was located initially. However, once inside the premises officers found four rooms that had cannabis plants from early stages through to nearly fully grown and also located a hole in the roof where two males had exited from. It is believed both males fled through the roof, climbing down to evade police officers.

Erenik Ahmatia, aged 27 years of Fanshawe Avenue, Barking was found to be walking away from the property and was dirty, wearing a yellow shirt and had only had a mobile telephone.  He told officers that he had travelled there from Barking. On his phone he had videos of the cannabis growth found and what appeared to be a recent harvest.

Muja Klodian aged 24 years from St. Giles Road, Derby, Derby City was seen was seen hiding behind some stairs in a courtyard next to the property.

Cannabis plants were counted and it is believed that there was approximately 220 nearly fully grown harvest with 400 smaller plants.  This is shown as a professional cannabis factory with every room utilised. Also in the property there were two beds with cigarettes, food and enough room to sleep in. A significant find of this nature is believed to generate over half a million pounds in illicit money.

Both males were arrested for cultivation of cannabis and abstracting electricity.

On 8th July Ahmatia was sent for Trial from North East London Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to production of a Class B – cannabis. On 20th September 2022 he received 13 months imprisonment. Klodian was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment in September last year.