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Caught in a shepherd's house in Britain, 20 months in prison for the Albanian: I wanted to pay off a debt

2024-09-12 23:25:33Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Caught in a shepherd's house in Britain, 20 months in prison for the
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An Albanian man who cultivated up to £105,000 worth of cannabis as "honor" to pay off a debt has been sentenced to 20 months in prison. The BBC writes that Albanian citizen Arben Kolgjoku, 47, said it was part of his culture for people to work to pay off debts, which he did while taking care of the illegal work at a house in Gateshead. His debt was only £7,000.

The father of two, of no fixed abode in Britain, admitted to producing cannabis. He will automatically return to Albania after his release from prison, Newcastle Crown Court was told. Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said police raided a three-storey house in Windmill Way on May 17, which had been turned into a cannabis farm.

There, 283 plants worth up to £105,000 and 127 dried plants were found in a cupboard. Prosecutor Wardlaw said Kolgjoku, who had been in the UK for three years, admitted his involvement by stating that the farm had been set up by someone else and that his role was only "to look after, water and feed the plants".

The court was told the Albanian ran up a £7,000 debt after taking out a loan to pay for medical treatment for his wife, who lives in Albania. Koldjoku said that in his culture it was "a matter of personal pride and honour" to work to pay off a debt and that "his parents raised him to never shirk his responsibilities and obligations", Mr Wardlaw said. He refused to say who he owed the money to for fear of repercussions, the prosecutor added.

In mitigation, Rachel Hedworth said Kolgjok was "very sorry" and that he had learned his lesson and would automatically return to Albania after his release. He said he was the son of farmers who had obtained a degree in biochemistry and had worked as a bodyguard in his home country and in agriculture in Italy before coming to the UK.


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