Three men were sentenced to prison after Humberside Police discovered 1,507 cannabis plants in the abandoned Wilko store in Grimsby, with an estimated street value of £1.5 million. The incident occurred on January 14, when authorities acted on a tip-off regarding a strong smell of cannabis emanating from the location.
During the police raid, one man, Spiro Visha, 38, was arrested inside the store, while two others, identified as Albanian nationals, were seen fleeing the roof and escaping through St James’ Square. Police utilized CCTV footage to track down one of the fleeing suspects.
Both Visha and his accomplice, Besjan Limani, 33, admitted to participating in the cannabis cultivation operation. Limani claimed he had been working as a gardener for approximately two weeks, while Visha stated he had been tasked with caring for the plants for about a month after arriving in the UK in search of work.
The police operation revealed that the cannabis was being grown using specialized equipment, and electricity was illegally sourced from nearby connections. The extensive cultivation effort resulted in a harvest of 150 kilograms of cannabis.
In court, the judge highlighted that both men had entered the UK unlawfully. He emphasized their subordinate roles in the operation and noted that there would be no further investigation into the two men who escaped. Limani received a 33-month sentence, while Visha was sentenced to 31 months due to a guilty plea at an earlier stage. Both will serve half of their sentences in custody and will likely face deportation upon release.
The discovery at the former Wilko store underscores ongoing issues with illegal cannabis cultivation in the region and the challenges law enforcement faces in tackling such operations.
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