Police release picture of offender who took work producing cannabis in South Yorkshire after coming to the UK illegally

A desperate Albanian who came to the UK illegally to support his family has been jailed after he ended up working at a cannabis production harvest.
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Xhevair Muca, aged 39, came to the UK in the back of a lorry on a cross-Channel ferry and after struggling to find employment in London he was offered work at a cannabis harvest on Albert Road, Rotherham, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing.

Brian Outhwaite, prosecuting, told the hearing on December 7 how Muca was arrested after he was found during a police raid on November 13 at Albert Road which uncovered 529 cannabis plants in various states of growth valued at over £52,000.

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Mr Outhwaite said: “Entry was forced to the front of the premises by police officers with officers stationed at the rear of the premises.

Pictured is Xhevair Muca, aged  39, of Albert Road, Rotherham, who has been jailed after he admitted producing cannabis at property on Albert Road, Rotherham.Pictured is Xhevair Muca, aged  39, of Albert Road, Rotherham, who has been jailed after he admitted producing cannabis at property on Albert Road, Rotherham.
Pictured is Xhevair Muca, aged 39, of Albert Road, Rotherham, who has been jailed after he admitted producing cannabis at property on Albert Road, Rotherham.

"As the officers forced entry the rear door opened and the defendant tried to run outside. He saw the police officers outside, stopped and returned inside as instructed.”

Police found 529 cannabis plants in the cellar, two upstairs rooms and a loft valued at over £52,000, according to Mr Outhwaite, with growing equipment and a bypassed electricity supply.

Father-of-three Muca told police he had entered the UK illegally to earn money to support his family in Albania and he had met an Albanian man who had taken him to Rotherham and instructed him to water the plants and he had been at the property five or six days.

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The defendant, of Albert Road, Rotherham, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to producing the class B drug.

Tim Gaubert, defending, said: “He came into the UK via a cross-Channel ferry on the back of a lorry and he came to the UK to make money for his family back in Albania.”

Mr Gaubert added Muca had not entered the country with any criminal intent but when he struggled to find work he was approached by an Albanian man who offered him the work in Rotherham but at that stage he was not clear what the work entailed or where he would be based.

Judge Sarah Wright sentenced Muca to 20 months of custody.

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