Albanian drug mule who ran cannabis farm in Sheffield snared by police as he hurtled down motorway
and live on Freeview channel 276
Esmerald Xhafa, 27, from Sheffield, was arrested on the hard shoulder of the A1(M) at Boroughbridge, in North Yorkshire, after being pulled over by police, York Crown Court heard.
Xhafa left the vehicle and legged it into a field at the side of the motorway, and the police helicopter had to be deployed to locate him, said prosecutor Eddison Flint.
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Hide AdPolice found two cardboard boxes containing more than 15kg of herbal cannabis in the BMW and £273 in cash, as well as a “hand-written list of names”, the court was told.
He was hauled into custody but refused to answer police questions, but he did tell officers at the scene that he lived in Sheffield.
His home address was searched by police who found 56 cannabis plants growing in his loft.
The “sophisticated” hydroponics system was fitted with plaster-board insultation, a modified electricity transformer and large growing lights to cultivate the plants.
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Hide AdXhafa, of Teynham Road, Shirecliffe, was charged with possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply and cannabis production.
He initially denied the offences but pleaded guilty to both charges weeks before his trial was due to take place and appeared for sentence via video link on Monday, July 19, aided by an Albanian interpreter.
Chris Moran, for Xhafa, said his client had come to the UK “to make a better life for himself and his family”.
“And, therefore, found himself in an extremely difficult position with an organised-criminal gang,” added Mr Morley.
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