Two men jailed after cannabis worth £500,000 found

Det Con Charlotte Bell described the cannabis haul as "quite a significant find"

Two men have been jailed after cannabis estimated to be worth more than £500,000 was discovered at a property.

Hertfordshire Police found the drug in a building in Mimram Road, Hertford, on 9 April following reports of suspicious activity.

Ded Makaj, 35, and Bylbyl Nezaj, 36, both pleaded guilty to the production of a Class B drug.

They were both sentenced to three years imprisonment at St Albans Crown Court on 20 May.

When officers arrived at the property, the men attempted to escape through the roof but were arrested and taken into police custody.

The building had been converted into a cannabis factory and its power supply had been tampered with "dangerously", said Hertfordshire Police.

Ded Makaj (on the left) and Bylbyl Nezaj (on the right) were both charged with production of a Class B drug

Det Con Charlotte Bell, from the East Herts Local Crime Unit, said: "Cannabis factories, in particular, pose a significant risk to those living close by, as criminals often seek to access free electricity and set up unsafe wiring to power the lamps and fans needed to grow the plants.

"They will often knock down walls and block off ventilation to prevent the smell escaping, causing damp and structural damage which can affect adjoining properties."

She added: "All drugs and the criminality associated with their use and supply can have devastating effects on local communities.

"They are often linked to acquisitive crime, such as burglary and theft, as well as violent offences, which leave innocent residents living in fear."