Two men were caught running out of a house where officers found more than £43,000 of cannabis drying in the loft.
Officers from Merseyside Police were investigating the strong smell of cannabis coming from a house in Prenton when they saw the men running out of the back onto Singleton Avenue.
They chased after the men, Argon Cela and Xhuliano Kryemadhi, and managed to catch them and arrest them.
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Cela and Kryemadhi were today jailed after admitting possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
Liverpool Crown Court heard they had only arrived at the house a few days before the police raid on August 17 this year and were to be paid cash for looking after the drying crop.
Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said police went into the loft of the premises after being alerted to the smell of cannabis and found the drying plants.
When they were later examined they were found to weigh a total of just under three kilos with a potential street value of £43,635.
The defendants were interviewed and Cela, 26, made no comment. Kryemadhi, 22, denied the offence but admitted having been present at the property. He said he had only arrived the day before and could not smell cannabis.
Mr Blasbery said: “He said he not been put under duress or threat and there was no evidence on their phones of supplying or production of drugs."
Ciara McElvogue, defending, said the men, who appeared via video link helped by an interpreter, have no previous convictions.
Ms McElvogue said: “They were looking after drugs and were custodians for a few days before their arrest. They were to be given a small amount of money for their involvement.
“They performed a very limited function under direction. They were not involved in the distribution or supply of cannabis.”
Jailing Cela, of north London and his co-accused, of Sevenoaks, Kent, for a total of 20 weeks Judge David Potter said that they had pleaded guilty on the basis that they had been at the premises for two days.
He said: “You were there to look after the plants while they were drying but were not involved in their production or onward supply.“
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