A MAN was found to be looking after a huge cannabis farm with a crop worth more than £180,000 when police raided a five-storey disused town centre shop.

Cannabis was found growing in eight rooms at the disused Chepstow shop
Cannabis was found growing in eight rooms at the disused Chepstow shop. Photo: Gwent Police (Gwent Police)

Artan Dedia, 36, pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis at the former TUI premises beside WH Smith on Chepstow High Street when he appeared at Merthyr Crown Court and was jailed for 12 months.

The hearing on Wednesday, January 22, was told that Gwent Police officers seized 652 cannabis plants, valued at £182,560, after an early morning raid on the building on Monday, November 4.

Police found cannabis being grown on five floors in commercial premises in Chepstow High Street
Police found cannabis being grown on five floors in commercial premises in Chepstow High Street (Gwent Police)

During the warrant, officers discovered the large-scale cannabis factory was spread across eight rooms and five floors, including the attic, and dismantled hydroponic equipment used to grow the class B drug.

PC Hywel Evans, the officer in the case and Chepstow neighbourhood ward manager, said: “We supported Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) for southern Wales, in carrying out this enforcement work as part of Operation Altar, which tackles the supply of illegal drugs.

A video still of the raid in the centre of Chepstow shows plugs in power sockets providing lighting for the cannabis farm
A video still of the raid in the centre of Chepstow shows plugs in power sockets providing lighting for the cannabis farm (Gwent Police)

“We identified this disused building in Chepstow as a suspected cannabis farm after receiving reports of suspicious activity from residents; and have now brought Dedia to justice.

“Every cannabis factory we dismantle helps disrupt these illegal operations, which are often linked to sophisticated organised crime groups.

There were more than 650 cannabis plants growing in the five-storey town centre building in Chepstow
There were more than 650 cannabis plants growing in the five-storey town centre building in Chepstow (Gwent Police)

“Our work stops the onward sale into our communities and prevents the profits from going on to fund other forms of crime.

“We encourage anyone with concerns about illegal drugs in their area to get in touch, so that we can take action."

“You can contact us via the website, call 101 or send us a direct message on social media.

“Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, with information or contact them via their website.”