TWO men, including one who was smuggled into the UK in the back of a lorry, have been sentenced for their part in a cannabis farm at an address in Bradford.

Aurel Hoxha, 31, and Kledvin Palushi, 22, were both found at an address in the city after police forced entry following reports of a cannabis farm at the site. A total of 57 cannabis plants were discovered at the address.

Both men were arrested and a search took place on the property and of the men.

Mobile phones belonging to both men were seized. Hoxha’s phone did not have a pin code so police officers were able to access its contents. They found videos showing various cannabis plants.

Evidence revealed Hoxha was involved in similar cannabis farm operations at other locations across the north of England, Danielle Gilmour, prosecuting, told the court.

Both men were interviewed at Trafalgar House police station in Bradford. Hoxha gave no comment to officers, but a statement was read out from Palushi’s legal team. It said Palushi had been smuggled into the UK and was taken to the address in Bradford by men from Albania.

Miss Gilmour said: “Palushi can be distinguished from Hoxha as he had a lesser role.”

Lydia Pearce, mitigating for Palushi, told the court that he came into the UK on the back of a lorry. He had run up a debt that he was paying off by working in the cannabis farm in Bradford.

No mitigation was given during the hearing on behalf of Hoxha.

Both men, both of no fixed address, had no previous convictions, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday (Monday).

Hoxha was jailed for 22 months while Palushi was jailed for four months, which he has already served the criminal custody period for. They each faced a charge of producing controlled drug of class B – cannabis.

They spoke on video link from prison through an Albanian interpreter only to confirm their names during the hearing.

Judge Colin Burn told the men: “It is accepted that Palushi’s role was as a gardener or cultivator of cannabis on behalf of others and was performing a lesser role.

“The clear evidence in Hoxha’s case was that you were towards the upper end of a significant role.

“He was performing an organisational, procurement and management role in this organisation.

"But there is insufficient evidence to suggest you (Hoxha) were leading the organisation.”