Three jailed over Ramsgate cannabis grow

Three men arrested at a large-scale cannabis cultivation in Ramsgate have been jailed.

Kent Police carried out a warrant at a site in Leigh Road on Wednesday 1 May 2024 and found three men inside.

They were all detained and a search was carried out of the site, leading to the discovery of more than 1,700 cannabis plants.

Charges

It is estimated that the site would have been worth more than £1million to the criminal group who ran it.

Tom Doku, Arvaniti Ilirjan and Ervin Zenelaj, who are all of no fixed address, were later charged with producing cannabis and dishonestly abstracting electricity.

Tackling drug dealing gangs

All three men admitted both charges and were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday 15 August.

Doku, 48, was jailed for one year and nine months while Ilirjan, 43, and Zenelaj, 33, both received one-year, one-month sentences.

Detective Inspector Sheena Barrell said: 'The money made from sites of this kind invariably ends up in the hands of criminal groups who bring misery and disorder to our communities.

'For that reason, we will be relentless in searching out and shutting down these sites, to deprive criminal groups of the funding they provide.'