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Crime

Guilty pleas after cannabis plants worth £2m found at former school

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TWO men have pleaded guilty to drugs charges after cannabis plants worth up to £2 million were found in a former school in Llandysul.

Dyfed-Powys Police officers carried out a stop check on a car travelling through Carmarthenshire on Friday, July 4, in which five suitcases of cannabis were found.

Two men were arrested, and enquiries established the pair had travelled from London to Ceredigion, where they stopped for a short while before leaving.

Further information led to a warrant being carried out at a former school building on Marble Terrace, where around 1,500 cannabis plants were discovered in various stages of growth across two floors.

The sophisticated set-up also included a number of CCTV cameras installed around the building.

The total street value of the cannabis bud and plants seized would have been up to £1,960,000.

Alfred Perkola, aged 43 from Ealing in London, and Adli Gjegjaj, aged 25 of Salford, were charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis, with Perkola also charged with possession with intent to supply.

Both men admitted the offences when they appeared at court on Saturday.

Detective Chief Inspector Rich Lewis said: “This was a very successful operation, which saw excellent joint working not only between a number of departments within Dyfed-Powys Police, but also with other forces.

“We are committed to making our force area hostile to those who deal illegal drugs, and our work over the weekend has seen a significant amount of cannabis taken out of the supply chain.

“The strength of evidence against the suspects led to early guilty pleas, and we now await their sentencing.”

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

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THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”

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Crime

Sex offender jailed for breaching court order

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A SEX offender from Wolfscastle has been jailed after using fake names on WhatsApp and attempting to access a social media app, breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Luke Rogers, 38, was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to two breaches of the order, which was imposed following his 2020 conviction for sexual activity with a child.

Under the SHPO, Rogers was prohibited from using unregistered internet-enabled devices or creating online profiles under false names. Prosecutor Ryan Bowen told the court that police monitoring software installed on Rogers’ phone detected activity in group chats under three aliases last November.

Further investigation revealed Rogers had also searched for the MeetMe app on four occasions and admitted using it. Rogers, described by Mr. Bowen as “apologetic,” was arrested, and his phone was seized.

The court heard Rogers has a history of 17 convictions for 35 offences, including breaching court orders and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

Defence barrister Olivia Rose said Rogers had cooperated fully with police and expressed a desire to change. She argued that his breaches stemmed from a misunderstanding about permitted names and emphasized his efforts to seek support.

Despite these mitigating factors, Judge Catherine Richards noted Rogers’ pattern of reoffending and stated: “The reality is I can only pass an immediate custodial sentence.”

She expressed hope that Rogers would take advantage of post-sentence supervision to break the cycle of offending.

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Crime

Police renew appeal to find Darren Markes from Pembroke Dock

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POLICE in Pembrokeshire are renewing their appeal for information to locate Darren Markes, 46, from Pembroke Dock. He is wanted in connection with a domestic assault.

Markes is believed to have links to the Portsmouth and Sussex areas.

If you have seen Darren Markes or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact the police through one of the following methods:

You can also provide information anonymously via Crimestoppers:

Please quote reference number 24*944729 when providing information.

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