Two men jailed after police raid on 'booby-trapped' drug farm
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Eliot Muhometaj, aged 19, and Nestor Metaliaj, aged 36, were arrested after Durham Constabulary carried out drug raids on their addresses on May 18.
Both men appeared at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday, June 16 where they pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of a Class B drug.
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Hide AdMuhometaj, of Thorpe Street in Easington Colliery, received a 14-month sentence, whereas Metaliaj, of Woods Terrace in Murton received a 16-month sentence.
Officers carried out warrants after intelligence gathered from the public suggested they were connected to a suspected drug dealing gang.
Despite being faced with heavily barricaded doors and potential booby traps, officers discovered large cannabis farms inside both addresses.
More than 200 cannabis plants were seized during the operation and the electricity meters in the properties were also found to have been bypassed.
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Hide AdHe said: “Illegal drugs can ruin lives and we will always act on intelligence to target gangs who bring drugs into our communities.
“There are often issues around trafficking and modern day slavery connected to these incidents and we will continue to do everything we can to dismantle these gangs and help potential victims.”
Police have confirmed that the drugs found in the properties have been destroyed.