Albanians used neighbouring properties to farm cannabis

WHEN police raided a basement cannabis farm they found a hole had been dug through the wall into the cellar of the neighbouring house which was also being used to grow the drug, a court has heard.

- 

Officers found more than 170 cannabis plants during the raid, and evidence that previous crops had already been harvested.

Two Albanian men were arrested during the raid, both of whom were in the UK illegally. One was a failed asylum seeker, while the authorities were unaware the second man was in the UK at all until his arrest in the Swansea Valley.

A judge told the pair the sooner they are deported back to their home country the better.

Dean Pulling, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that on the morning of February 21 police executed a search warrant at 83 Cyfyng Road in Ystalyfera.

He said the terraced property was considered “derelict” but was using a high amount of electricity.

Officers forced entry and detained Jonis Krasniqi as he tried to flee through the window of a rear bedroom.