Two Albanian criminals who had already been deported after serving UK prison sentences illegally returned to Yorkshire before being caught running a £1 million cannabis farm in Bradford.
Fatos Demucaj, 34, and Daniel Kabali, 22, were arrested when police raided a Woolston Warehouse building in Grattan Road, Bradford, in April. Both men had previously been deported to Albania but managed to re-enter the country illegally to continue their criminal activities.
Bradford Crown Court heard on Wednesday that the pair were caught operating a sophisticated cannabis cultivation operation across multiple floors of a converted apartment building, highlighting ongoing concerns about foreign criminals returning to the UK after deportation.
Sophisticated Million-Pound Operation
Prosecutor Jordan Millican told the court that the building was an apartment block with commercial space that had been converted for drug production. When officers attempted to access the commercial areas on floors two and three, they found the doors had been boarded up.
Behind the barriers, police discovered grow rooms containing more than 600 cannabis plants. Mr Millican said the operation could have produced a yield of more than 50 kilograms, with a secondary crop expected to produce the same quantity.
Each crop had an estimated street value of more than £500,000, giving the operation a potential overall value of around £1 million. The court heard that an “additional chimney” had been added to the building and the electricity supply had been tampered with to power the extensive growing equipment.
The upper floor was being used for storage and living quarters for those tending the plants. Officers caught Demucaj as he attempted to flee the scene, while Kabali was arrested on the third floor. Both men’s phones were seized, but they refused to provide PIN codes to unlock the devices.
History of Deportation and Illegal Re-entry
The court heard disturbing details about both defendants’ immigration histories and previous criminal activities in the UK. Mr Millican revealed that Kabali had been deported to Albania after serving a 15-month sentence in a young offenders institution, but had subsequently re-entered the country illegally.
Demucaj’s history of illegal entry was even more extensive. He first entered the country illegally in 2013 but agreed to return to Albania a few months later. He re-entered the UK in 2015 and was subsequently given a 28-month jail sentence for possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.
After attempting to legalise his immigration status, Demucaj was deported again to Albania in May 2023, less than a year before being caught at the cannabis farm. Despite this second deportation, he managed to re-enter the UK illegally once more.
Judge’s Scathing Comments
Recorder Anthony Hawks delivered scathing remarks to both defendants during sentencing. He described Demucaj as a “repeat offender” and told Kabali he had breached his deportation order with the clear intention of committing further crimes.
Speaking directly to Demucaj, the judge said: “So here you are in April of this year back in this country again illegally in breach of a deportation order playing a significant role in a major cannabis farm.
He added: “Cannabis farms are a scourge in this country and those who are involved in running them have got to expect to receive significant sentences of imprisonment.”
The judge emphasised that both men had shown complete disregard for UK immigration laws and had returned specifically to engage in serious criminal activity.
Sentencing and Automatic Deportation
Both men pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and breaching their deportation orders. Kabali was jailed for four years while Demucaj received a sentence of four years and three months in prison.
The court heard that both will have to serve half their prison sentences before being subject to automatic deportation back to Albania. This means they will serve two years and just over two years respectively before being returned to their home country.
The case highlights the ongoing challenge authorities face in preventing deported criminals from returning to the UK and resuming their illegal activities.
Growing Problem of Albanian-Run Cannabis Farms
The case reflects a wider trend identified by law enforcement agencies across the UK. Albanian criminal networks have increasingly taken control of cannabis cultivation operations, often using sophisticated methods and exploiting vulnerable individuals.
A recent report by West Yorkshire Police revealed that criminals from the Western Balkans region, particularly Albanians, represent “a significant minority within the cannabis production market” and their involvement has been increasing over recent years.
The report noted: “This trend is not only noted in West Yorkshire, but nationally and internationally.” Albanian nationals have appeared frequently in Bradford courts charged with running or working in cannabis farms across the city.
Bradford has emerged as a particular hotspot for cannabis cultivation in West Yorkshire, with 38 per cent of all cannabis farms discovered in the region being found in the district. The issue gained national attention through the Bradford On Duty TV series, which featured police dismantling multimillion-pound operations in derelict mills.
National Crime Agency Warnings
The National Crime Agency has flagged Albanian organised crime groups for their increasing dominance in the UK’s illegal cannabis market. They have largely taken over from Vietnamese groups who previously controlled much of the trade.
Albanian criminal gangs are now believed to control the majority of cannabis farms across the UK, with operations concentrated in northern areas but present throughout the country. In Suffolk, specialist police units report that the majority of criminals using the county’s roads for drug crime are Albanian nationals.
The sophistication of these operations has increased, with criminals using social media to recruit workers and employing complex money laundering schemes. Recent seizures have found hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash being transported back to Albania, with estimates suggesting hundreds of millions are moved out of the UK annually.
Challenges for Law Enforcement
The case of Demucaj and Kabali illustrates the significant challenges faced by UK authorities in dealing with foreign criminals who repeatedly breach deportation orders. Despite being removed from the country on multiple occasions, both men managed to return and establish themselves in serious criminal enterprises.
Detective Inspector Paul Crompton of Greater Manchester Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Group recently emphasised the importance of targeting not just the “gardeners” tending cannabis farms but the higher-level organisers controlling these operations.
The automatic deportation provisions mean that foreign nationals sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment face removal from the UK, but this case demonstrates that determined criminals continue to find ways to return illegally.
As both men begin their prison sentences, authorities will be preparing for their eventual deportation, knowing that preventing their return remains a significant challenge in the ongoing battle against organised cannabis cultivation in the UK.
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