Man jailed after around £400,000 of cannabis recovered in Beverley

A 45-year-old man has been jailed for five years after officers seized almost £400,000 worth of cannabis from an address in Beverley. 

Rakip Karanxha of Butterfly Meadows in Molescroft, Beverley, was found guilty of the offence on Friday 7th June after a three-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court .  

On Wednesday 21st December 2021, officers on duty stopped after they noticed the smell of cannabis coming from a property on North Bar Without.

They carried out enquiries where they located a large-scale cannabis grow consisting of six rooms filled with cannabis plants as well as others containing growing equipment. A man was also present at the address, arrested at the scene, and later convicted and sentenced for 12 months for the production of cannabis.

During their thorough search of the building, officers also discovered a concealed door which led directly into the storeroom of the premises next door, a restaurant, which Karanxha was the manager of.

An investigation was launched, and it was established that the electrics at the property had also been tampered with, potentially creating a fire risk to the building and those in the area. Karanxha was then arrested in February 2022 on suspicion of the production of cannabis.

PC Karl Freeman said: “This was a huge cannabis grow containing over 350 live cannabis plants with an estimated street value of around £395,000 as well as an estimated £2,680 worth of dried cannabis.

“The impact that the drugs trade, and the crime that often comes with it, can have on a community should not be underestimated and I am pleased that this huge haul of drugs will now never see our streets.

“Karanxha showed no remorse for his crimes, refusing to admit what he had done. He was also willing to go to great lengths to conceal his crimes because when officers returned six days later to conduct further enquiries and searches, they found the connecting door they had initially discovered had been obstructed by large kitchen appliances.

“The investigation also found Karanxha had numerous communications with the man arrested inside the premises in December 2021, and forensics also found him to be linked to the cannabis grow.

“I am reassured that he is now facing significant time behind bars, unable to continue to deceive anyone and commit offences.

“We are committed to taking action against anyone who chooses to harm our community through crime and will continue to do everything in our power to put offenders before the courts.”

If you have any information about drugs offences or other crime in your area please call our non-emergency 101 line or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency or if there is a crime in progress always dial 999.