Community concerns lead to discovery of cannabis grow

Community concerns raised about a cannabis grow at a residential address in Burton Latimer has resulted in a 29-year-old man being sentenced to 24 months in prison.

On the afternoon of July 21 this year, the Kettering Neighbourhood Policing Team visited the address in Slipton Road, and informed Eduart Cili that there was intelligence the property was housing a cannabis grow.

Cili allowed the officers inside before telling them “I did it” and “it is mine. My wife knows nothing about it” – leading to him being arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis.

During a search under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 269 cannabis plants with a value of up to £90,000, were found inside the attic along with the associated equipment required to produce the grow.

Cili was charged with the production of a controlled Class B drug – namely cannabis – and appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on July 23, where he pleaded guilty, and he was remanded in custody.

On Monday, September 9, at Northampton Crown Court, Cili was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay a £187 surcharge in full upon his release. A forfeiture and destruction order was also made to destroy the drugs and paraphernalia.

Detective Constable Neil Carr of the North LPA CID team, who led the investigation, said: “The discovery of this large cannabis grow was as a direct result of community intelligence, and I would like to thank the members of the public who raised their concerns with us.

“Tackling and preventing drug harm is a matter of priority for the Force and we will continue to act on information to disrupt those, often organised crime groups, setting up professional and sophisticated cannabis factories within our communities.

“This is a prime example of how we can work together with our partners and residents to take positive action against issues affecting them and I would urge anyone who has concerns about drug dealing within their local communities to keep reporting suspicious activity to us.”

If anyone has concerns about drug dealing or any other illegal activities, please report it to us on 101, online at www.northants.police.uk/ro or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.