Cannabis farmer grew plants to pay smugglers who brought him to the UK

A CANNABIS farmer caught growing plants worth £25,000 claimed he was paying off a debt to traffickers who had smuggled him into the country.

After police raided the terraced property in Mount Pleasant, Darcy Lever, Alfred Pirra was arrested and told Bolton Crown Court that his family had been threatened if he did not find the cash to pay the people smugglers.

Wayne Jackson, prosecuting, said the hoard of 46 cannabis plants was discovered in two upstairs bedrooms by officers at 8.15am on February 27.

“The defendant was present, tried to get out of the house but was detained,” said Mr Jackson.

In a search, 23 plants were found growing in a front bedroom with a further 23 in a rear room, all being cultivated with a sophisticated set up of lights and ventilation.

“The attic was covered in foil, which the Crown says, indicates previously used space for cultivating cannabis.

When harvested the plants could produce around 2.5kg of cannabis.

In Pirra’s wallet was £795 plus an Italian driving licence in the name of Andrea Belotti.

Pirra, aged 26, appeared in court via a video link from prison and followed proceedings with the help of an Albanian interpreter.

He pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis but Rachel Faux, defending, said that Pirra had not planned to commit crime when he came to the UK.

“He wanted to be in this country to improve his life, not to act criminally in connection with drugs,” she said.

“The cash found on him was rent and not the profits of drug dealing.”

Miss Faux added that Pirra was in debt to his traffickers but when the pandemic struck his car wash job went and he could not pay them.

His family was threatened and they managed to raise £5,000 towards paying the debt, while Pirra agreed to look after the cannabis plants to fund the rest.

“He accepts he made the wrong choice in working with drugs in order to stave off the threats towards his family,” said Miss Faux.

“Prison has been a period of complete isolation for him. He has found the constant fear of violence alarming and exhausting.”

Recorder Michael Maher sentenced Pirra to six months in prison, time he has already served on remand.

However, the court heard that he will continue to be detained by the Home Office while they decide whether to deport him.

Recorder Maher told Pirra: “This was a sophisticated grow which would have required significant investment by those who organised it.

“You acknowledge that you came to this country illegally and you paid smugglers £20,000 to facilitate your entry to the UK. When you couldn’t pay the debt you say you were exploited and manipulated into tending this illegal crop.”

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