Criminal teaches 30 Albanian inmates English

Anduen Spahiu, 20, was caught with more than 10kg of cannabis after he and co-defendant Relos Havalja, 26, cultivated the drugs in Caerphilly.

The couple had entered the UK illegally and were forced by gangsters to grow cannabis in a house in Bedwas.

Prosecutor Alexander Greenwood told Newport Crown Court that police responded to a tip-off on January 31 and went to Tydfil Road.

They stopped the defendants after observing them getting into a taxi.

Officers found two bags of cannabis as well as fans and electrical equipment in a Ford Transit van.

Mr Greenwood said: “The prosecution's view is that a cultivation procedure was initiated and the defendants were arrested after the harvest.

“The total quantity of cannabis seized was over 10kg and had a street value of between £40,000 and £52,000.

“Officers attended an address on Tydfil Road and conducted a search.

“They found remnants of cannabis cultivation, including tarps covering windows and floors, leftover cannabis leaves and general paraphernalia, including a ventilation system.

“It was sophisticated in its nature.”

The defendants, who are of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to resell and manufacturing the Class B drug.

Harriet Ealdon, representing Spahiu, said: “The defendant was attempting to pay off a debt for his entry into the country.

“He has now been in prison for approximately seven months and seven days and I think he has made good use of his time in custody.

“The defendant has taken part in courses and works as a peer mentor in the prison – this shows that he is a trustworthy person within the prison.

“He was able to improve his English so much that he now works as a teaching assistant in the prison, helping to teach English to 30 Albanian citizens in prison.

“And he explains that he also helps the prison staff with interpreting.”

Matthew Roberts, representing Havalja, told the court: “These men were used and abused by those above them in the hierarchy.

“They have no money and no means.”

Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant told the defendants: “This was a significant and large operation involving significant sums of money.”

“It would be naive to claim that you have no awareness or understanding of the magnitude.”

Spahiu was sent to a youth detention center for eleven months and Havalja was sentenced to 13 months in prison.