People living on a Nottingham street where police discovered a £285,000 cannabis den admit they were not surprised as there is 'always a whiff of it'.
Officers found the plants in Nottingham Road, New Basford, after being called to reports of a disturbance involving six men at a different property on June 13.
Evidence found during a search of the property led them to a separate home where they found 330 cannabis plants and 29 vacuum-sealed bags containing around a kilogram of cropped willow.
Sabian Bishaj, 19 and Ramazan Cobaj, 23, both of Nottingham Road in New Basford, were arrested and later pleaded guilty to producing a Class B drug. They were sentenced to 14 months and 16 months respectively on Thursday, December 9.
Residents living in the road have expressed concern over the incident.
Malcolm Theobold, 70, a retired lorry driver, said: "I'm not surprised - there's always a whiff of it (cannabis) around here.
"I've lived here for almost 30 years and it hasn't always been like this.
"But it has got better since some of the new businesses have opened on this street."
However, Mogane Seery, 31, a stay-at-home mum,isn't concerned about the news of a drugs bust.
She said: "It doesn't bother me to hear about it but it is an area where you wouldn't want to go out at night.
"Wherever you go there is danger."
One business owner on the street who did not want to be named said: "We've always had trouble in this area.
"There is a lot of crime and there should be more cameras on this street to combat it."
And another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, added: "We've had three different raids nearby recently but it happens everywhere.
"It does upset me though as you do worry about the impact it has on others.
"I worry that kids might be involved and things like that."
Bishaj and Cobaj were said to be the 'gardeners' of the crop in Nottingham Road.
Cobaj was found to have two mobile phones on him, one of which kept ringing while police were there.
Katrina Wilson, prosecuting, said: "Cobaj was told if he looked after the plants, he would not have to pay rent and he did so for a week."
Bishaj was found with £207 on his person, and Bishaj was found with £79, which both have been made to forfeit along with paying a surcharge, with a destruction order and forfeiture of all equipment used within the operation.
When delivering the sentences at Nottingham Crown Court, Judge Steven Coupland said: "I accept this was not your operation, but by both agreeing to this operation, you've effectively protected the criminals running it from being arrested and investigated themselves.
"If this had gone through, a significant quantity of cannabis would be on the streets, along with a significant quantity of cash for criminals."
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