Two Albanian men face prison time after police discovered a large cannabis farm in Northumberland
Morpeth: So, here’s the scoop. Two guys, Klodian Sulovari and Eldison Kalemi, both from Albania, got themselves into a bit of trouble. They were caught trying to escape from an abandoned restaurant where they had set up a cannabis farm with 533 plants.
Last October, the police were tipped off and went to check out the Riverside Lodge building. The two men thought they could make a run for it via the roof, but they were nabbed up there without any injuries, thankfully.
The prosecutor, David Robinson-Young, made it clear that both the officers and the guys were in a risky situation. The cannabis plants they found were worth a pretty penny, between £57,000 and £240,000. It was a serious operation, not just a small-time grow.
They also discovered 224 cuttings and signs of a previous crop, which showed this wasn’t their first rodeo. Both men admitted to producing cannabis and, interestingly, Kalemi had a past conviction for a similar crime back in Manchester in 2022.
It turns out they both came to the UK looking for work to support their families. Sulovari’s lawyer said he was just a family man trying to earn a living. Kalemi, who used to be a plumber, lost his job back home and wanted to get into construction here.
In the end, Sulovari got 20 months in jail, while Kalemi received 24 months. Quite the turn of events for a couple of guys just trying to make ends meet.
