Two men have been sentenced to prison after police discovered a large cannabis operation within an abandoned BHS department store in Slough. Ajet Begu, 40, and Aryan Turya, 27, were found inside the former High Street shop with 1,700 cannabis plants at various stages of growth.
Officers gained entry to the disused premises on January 28, identifying it as a cannabis factory operating across two floors. The estimated potential yield of the plants was 150.27kg, with a street value calculated by a drug expert witness to be over £1.28 million. The wholesale value was estimated at £525,000.
The BHS store in Slough closed in 2016 as part of the wider chain's administration, which struggled with significant debt, declining sales, and increased competition from online retailers.
Begu, from Palmers Green in north London, and Turya, of no fixed abode, were charged with producing a controlled class B drug two days after their apprehension. Both men pleaded guilty at Reading Magistrates' Court on the same day.
A judge at Reading Crown Court sentenced the pair on August 21 to one year and two months in prison.
Detective Constable George Randell, the investigating officer, stated that the sentencing was the result of diligent police work. He described the scene as an "incredible sight" for officers who discovered the hundreds of cannabis plants spread over two floors, concealed within the seemingly abandoned building. Randell added that the intervention is expected to have a significant impact on cannabis production and supply in Slough and surrounding areas, with ongoing investigations into potential links to organized crime.
Thames Valley Police issued a statement emphasizing their intolerance for individuals who exploit communities by introducing drugs. The force asserted that arrests, supply disruptions, and seizures of drugs and cash are inevitable, leading to court proceedings for offenders.