Seven men have been locked up after police found more than £500,000 worth of weed when they raided five properties in Leeds.
Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit seized over 260 cannabis plants and more than 600 saplings when they carried out raids at properties in Armley, Harehills and Gipton in March 2018.
The men were jailed for their role in the cannabis growing operation at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday, September 17.
Detective inspector Lee Fletcher said: "Illegal drugs are a blight on our society and will not be tolerated.
"This was an organised operation and these men now have time inside to consider the consequences of their actions on the communities of West Yorkshire and beyond.
“I would appeal to anyone with information about any illegal drug activity to contact police – if we know about it we can take action.”
Ermijon Gjuta, 30, of Karnac Road, Leeds, was sentenced to four years and three months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis and fraudulent document offences.
Ardit Gjuta, 21, of Amberton Approach, Leeds, was sentenced to four years and three months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis and fraudulent document offences.
Rigert Papdeja, 21, of Elford Grove, Leeds was sentenced to three years and three months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis.
Metali Shehu, 29, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to three years and three months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis and fraudulent document offences.
Blerim Trota, 34, of Simmons Drive, Birmingham, was sentenced to four years and three months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis.
Did Dida, 41 of Ashton grove, Leeds, was sentenced to one year and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis.
Refik Duraku, 36, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to two years and six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis.
Last year, LeedsLive revealed that arrests for cannabis possession in Leeds have fallen year-on-year since 2014, but West Yorkshire Police insist officers are still committed to tackling users.
Between 2014 and 2018 the number of cannabis possession arrests dropped by 35 per cent, from 605 to 389.
Other parts of the country have seen similar declines, and some forces, including Durham, Derbyshire and Dorset, have taken a softer stance on people who are caught carrying small amounts of the Class B drug, and focused their resources on the suppliers.
Durham became the first force to adopt this stance in 2015, when it said it would only go after small-scale smokers if there was a complaint or they were being 'blatant'.
LeedsLive has launched a WhatsApp group to keep you up to date with the latest news! Click here to join and follow the instructions on your phone. Your number won't be shared with anyone else in the group.
