Cannabis raid on Exhall industrial estate leads to four men jailed

Four men have been sentenced for the production of cannabis after a raid on an industrial estate in Exhall.

Police visited a site on Bayton Road on August 31, 2023, following a tip-off from National Grid with an unusual amount of electricity being used.

Over 1,000 six-week-old cannabis plants worth around £889,623 were discovered, along with evidence of another 407 harvested plants.

One man, 31-year-old Haxhi Malaj of no fixed abode, was caught, he was later jailed for 28 months for being concerned in the production of cannabis.

Donald Ponari, 22, of no fixed abode, was caught after being spotted getting into a white BMW near the industrial estate, was also handed a 28 month sentence.

28-year-old Adrian Lila, of Priory Place in Coventry was jailed for 16 months for being concerned in the production of cannabis at Cherry Close.

Nimert Hoxhaj, 26 of Cherry Close in Coventry, was also jailed for 16 months.

Hoxhaj, Lila, Ponari, and Malaj were in Warwick Crown Court on 15 January 2024 for sentencing.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Blaney said “The production of cannabis at Bayton Road was at an industrial scale, with a highly sophisticated setup.

“There were very clear ties to funding from organised criminal gangs, and elements of modern slavery are apparent throughout the day-to-day operation of both grows.

“This is the real price of cannabis – it costs a bit of money for the bag with a surcharge of misery for those affected by the gangs behind it.”

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