Ex student caught living at commercial-scale cannabis farm in Newcastle jailed
A former student caught living at a commercial scale cannabis farm has been jailed.
Police raided a house in the Cowgate area of Newcastle in August and found a sophisticated set up containing a "significant number" of plants. Newcastle Crown Court heard Albanian national Alden Zefe had been living in the kitchen and was tasked to water the plants in exchange for food.
Pictures from inside the illegal farm show dozens of plants packed in amongst lighting, heating and ventilation equipment and several electricity sockets. Zefe, 21, of no fixed address, admitted producing cannabis.
David Callan, defending, said Zefe was a student in Albania who now faces deportation and added: "He had been in the UK for two months. He had flown from Ireland to the UK, which suggests he is not known to the authorities.
"This is the very opposite of a sophisticated drug dealer living a lavish lifestyle, he was sleeping in the kitchen on a bed and the rest of the house was separated by tarpaulin."
Zefe claimed he had to water the plants in exchange for food. Mr Callan added: "He was exploited and was at the bottom of the food chain." Mr Recorder Jonathan Sandiford said the farm was capable of "producing significant quantities for commercial use". The recorder jailed Zefe for 12 months.