A COUPLE of men have been handed prison sentences after being involved in the production of cannabis at a property in Rhyl.

Edmond Selmamllari, 29, of Shirehall Park, London; and Eugen Dollani, 24, of Rhyl, were both jailed for 12 months each at Mold Crown Court today (August 14).

They had both previously pleaded guilty, on July 21, to a charge of producing a controlled class B drug.

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Prosecuting, Catherine Elvin told the court that, on June 20, police executed a search warrant at a Rhyl address, forcing entry into the property in question.

Dellani attempted to climb out of a window on the property’s first floor, but re-entered upon seeing police.

Officers, detecting a “strong smell of cannabis” searched the three-storey building, and discovered drugs and various paraphernalia.

In total, 647 cannabis plants were seized, which was said to have had a potential street value as high as £543,480.

When interviewed, Selmamllari said he had no money, food or shelter, so took a job watering the plants.

After discovering the plants were cannabis, he tried to “back out”, but felt “threatened”.

Dellani told police he arrived from Italy, and was first accommodated, but shortly after, was forced to work at a cannabis grow, where he fed and watered plants.

He had been working to pay off debts to those accommodating him.

Both men were said to have been of “previous good character”, with “no influence on those above them in the chain”.

They had been “involved through naivety, immaturity or exploitation,” Ms Elvin said.

Defending, Sarah Yates said that the defendants had “co-operated fully with police” in their investigations.

Selmamllari came to the UK in September 2022 to find work, having borrowed a “substantial” sum of money to come to Britain and for an operation on his leg.

He was said to have had some concerns for his safety, and needed work to try to repay the debts he owed.

Dellani arrived in the UK about 10 months ago having also acquired “substantial debts”.

Neither defendant received any money for their work while at the property, Ms Yates said.

Sentencing, Judge Niclas Parry also ordered the items seized by police to be forfeited and destroyed.

Both defendants will pay a statutory surcharge upon their release from prison.

Judge Parry told the defendants: “This was a very, very big drugs operation. It would not have been possible without you.

“Your role was small, compared to the involvement of others, but it was an absolutely vital role.

“More and more asylum seekers are turning to this kind of crime. Because of that, we are reaching epidemic levels of drug production, because people like you are prepared to do what you did.

“The courts can only try to stop this by trying to deter others from doing the same.”