News

Former school devastated by fire revealed as £2m drug factory just weeks ago

Published

2 years ago

July 18, 2024

A SIGNFICANT blaze that led to the collapse of the roof of a former primary school in west Wales occurred merely two weeks after the discovery of a substantial cannabis farm valued at up to £2 million within the same building.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene on Marble Terrace in Llandysul, Ceredigion, early on Wednesday morning (17 July) after reports of a large fire. Crews from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the building, previously a primary school and later a workshop known as Teifi Harps, at around 7.40am. Upon arrival, the building was already “well alight,” prompting an extensive firefighting operation that lasted approximately six hours.

A spokesperson for the fire service detailed the response, stating: “At 7.40am on Wednesday, crews from Llandysul, Newcastle Emlyn, Lampeter, New Quay, Port Talbot, Aberystwyth, and Carmarthen Fire Stations were called to an incident in Llandysul. Crews responded to a two-storey disused building measuring approximately 30m x 15m that was well alight and fully involved in fire. Crews utilised four hose reel jets, one main jet, one turntable ladder appliance, one water bowser and small gear to extinguish the fire. The building has been significantly damaged by the fire, with the roof structure collapsing internally.”

The fire has caused considerable damage to a building that has been a landmark in the village for generations. Fire crews made the area safe and left the scene by 1.40pm. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and an investigation has been launched.

This incident follows a police raid on the same building just two weeks prior. On 4 July, officers conducted a stop check on a car travelling through Carmarthenshire, uncovering five suitcases filled with cannabis. Further investigations led police to the disused school in Llandysul, where they discovered approximately 1,500 cannabis plants in various stages of growth across two storeys.

Police estimated the street value of the seized cannabis bud and plants to be nearly £2 million. Following the raid, two men, Alfred Perkola, aged 43, from Ealing in London, and Adli Gjegjaj, aged 25, from Salford, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to drug offences.

The police said: “Dyfed-Powys Police was called to a report of a fire at a property on Penwalle Road, Llandysul at about 7.50am, Wednesday, 17^th July 2024.

“The fire has been extinguished however the damage to the property is extensive and it is unsafe to enter.

“Officers will be working with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service investigators to establish the cause of the fire which is currently being treated as unexplained.”

An appeal has bee launched, police have asked that anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to Dyfed-Powys Police, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908.

Quote reference: 50 of the 17th

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

Images: Provided by the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service

Crime

Carmarthen man admits takeaway burglaries

Published

9 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Court Reporter

Phillip Roberts stole cash from USA Chicken and returned the following day with intent to steal

A CARMARTHEN man has admitted a string of burglaries at the same takeaway business on consecutive days.

Phillip Roberts, 44, of Brewery Road, Carmarthen, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to three offences connected to USA Chicken on Blue Street.

The court heard that on June 4, Roberts entered the premises as a trespasser and stole a tip jar containing cash. He also admitted a second burglary at the same business on the same date, during which £50 cash was stolen.

A further offence took place on June 5, when Roberts entered USA Chicken as a trespasser with intent to steal.

Magistrates adjourned sentence for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. The report will consider all sentencing options, including possible committal to the Crown Court.

Roberts was granted conditional bail. He must not enter USA Chicken, Blue Street, and must not contact Mustafa Baksi, either directly or indirectly.

He is due to return to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 1 for sentence.

Health

Welsh Ambulance Service urges public to ‘choose wisely’ as pressures continue

Published

10 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE has issued a fresh appeal to the public following the declaration of a critical incident on Friday (June 26), as exceptionally high demand continues to place pressure on crews across Wales.

In a social media post published today (Saturday, June 27), the Trust warned that hot weather is contributing to a rise in ambulance call-outs, including incidents involving heat-related illness, falls, breathing difficulties and existing medical conditions worsened by the heat.

The message comes less than 24 hours after the service declared a critical incident amid unprecedented demand, with ambulance resources stretched across Wales.

The Trust is urging people to call 999 only for serious or life-threatening emergencies, contact NHS 111 Wales for urgent health advice, and use local pharmacies for minor illnesses and ailments.

It said choosing the right service can help ambulance crews reach the sickest patients more quickly while pressures remain high.

Crime

Six arrested after immigration raids at Florentino’s restaurants

Published

11 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SIX people have been arrested following Immigration Enforcement raids at Florentino’s Italian restaurants in Tenby and Carmarthen.

Officers visited the Tenby branch in St Julian’s Street on June 18, where two Romanian nationals were identified as allegedly having no right to work in the UK. Both were arrested on suspicion of illegal working.

The Tenby operation followed an earlier raid at Florentino’s in Carmarthen in February, where four workers — two Romanian nationals, a Bangladeshi national and a Mongolian national — were also arrested on suspicion of illegal working.

The Herald previously reported in March that the Carmarthen restaurant had been linked to a major HMRC case, after Claudio Cernat Ltd, formerly trading as Florentino’s on Jacksons Lane, was listed over a £278,000 deliberate tax underpayment and a further £186,000 penalty.

Immigration officials say inquiries are now under way to establish who may be liable for employing the individuals. Employers found to have breached illegal working rules can face civil penalties of up to £60,000 per worker.

One of the Tenby workers has already returned, while the other is in the process of returning. Of the Carmarthen workers, two have returned, one was placed on immigration bail and another was de-arrested with a warning.

Immigration Enforcement Lead for Wales, Richard Johnson, said: “I want to thank my officers who showed the highest levels of professionalism under challenging circumstances on these operations.

“Immigration Enforcement teams in Wales continue to work round the clock to ensure businesses play by the rules and those with no right to be in the UK are tracked down and returned at the earliest opportunity.”

The Home Office says illegal working enforcement has increased significantly since July 2024, with raids and arrests rising across the UK and Wales.

No finding has yet been made against the restaurant operators in relation to the latest arrests.

Florentino’s has been approached for comment.