Pair jailed over £4.5m cannabis farms operation

Two men have been jailed for their part in huge cannabis growing operation across 75 properties.

- by Nick Frame

Mirel Neatu and Marius Nedelcu were both handed custodial sentences for their part in the organised business, while a third defendant, Seyan Debnath, was given a suspended sentence at Leeds Crown Court.

The men ran property-management companies that were linked to an investigation into 75 cannabis farms in residential properties producing the drug with a street value of more than £4.5m.

Officers from the Leeds East Neighbourhood Policing Team identified the criminal enterprise as part of their work under the 'Community Harehills' project-based on the Home Office's 'Clear, Hold, Build' tactic, launched in the area in March 2023.