Indrid Hysembelli, Xhoi Kasaj and Romeo Tosca were found hiding inside the drug den when police burst in
Indrid Hysembelli, Xhoi Kasaj and Romeo Tosca (Image: GMP)
Three men have been put behind bars after a huge cannabis farm worth almost £1 million was busted by police in Oldham.
Indrid Hysembelli, Xhoi Kasaj and Romeo Tosca have all been jailed after officers uncovered the drug den on Bilsley Street in Oldham on June 17 last year. The men were found hiding in the loft when police burst into the ‘heavily secured’ industrial premises.
Police uncovered 889 cannabis plants inside the building. The street value of the plants was believed to be worth almost £1 million at around £986,800, Greater Manchester Police said.
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Officers also found a ‘small living area’ within the building, with four bunk-beds, a cooker and a fridge. A TV was found which displayed live CCTV footage from cameras outside the building.
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. Police launched an investigation after discovering the cannabis farm and uncovered pictures of the men posing over huge hauls of the drug.
They also found a picture of the three men posing together while drinking beer. Hysembelli, Kasaj and Tosca, who are all of Albanian decent, have now all been jailed after being convicted of the production of Class B drugs at Minshull Street Crown Court.
Indrid Hysembelli (right), Xhoi Kasaj (bottom left) and Romeo Tosca (top left)(Image: GMP)
Hysembelli, 26, was jailed for three years and seven months’ imprisonment on Monday (April 27). Kasaj, 30, was sentenced on March 23 to two years and three months in prison. Tosca, 26, was jailed on March 23 for two years and eight months.
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 £1 million and posing a serious risk to the local community. Drug dealing is not a victimless crime.
Three men have been jailed after the huge cannabis farm was uncovered in Oldham(Image: GMP)
“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.”