WATCH: Moment police discover 100 cannabis plants in St Leonards
A man has been convicted after drugs worth an estimated £50,000 were seized at an industrial unit
Last updated 19th Jul 2023
A man has been convicted for producing an estimated £50,000 worth of drugs, causing a ‘considerable risk of fire’ in St Leonards.
Police searched an industrial unit in Shornden Passage on Thursday, July 6, after officers on patrol identified a strong smell of cannabis with the sound of fans at the address.
Officers seized 100 cannabis plants and a large quantity of growing equipment, which has been destroyed.
Concerns were then raised about the electricity supply, as it was found to be dangerously bypassed in two separate places.
UK Power Networks attended to make sure the area was safe.
Rigers Lleshi, of no fixed address, appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court this month, where he pleaded guilty to producing a controlled drug of Class B (cannabis); abstracting/using electricity without authority; and acquiring/using/possessing criminal property.
The 21-year-old will be sentenced on August 4th.
Inspector Simon Burroughs said: "This is a great example of following up on officers’ instincts to achieve a significant disruption to the production and supply of drugs in our community.
“The cannabis factory set-up also posed a considerable risk of fire. As there are residential properties in close proximity to this industrial unit, any fire breaking out could have had extremely serious – potentially even fatal – consequences.
“Lleshi gave no comment in interview but thanks to the hard work of the TEU and the East Sussex Community Investigations Team, we were able to present enough compelling evidence to secure a guilty plea at court.”