A 35-YEAR-OLD man who ran a cannabis factory inside the former premises of HSBC bank in Penarth has been sentenced to seven months in prison.
Florian Qalliu, an Albanian citizen who had been living in Cardiff, was found to have grown £300,000 worth of cannabis when hundreds of plants were seized during a police raid in June.
The premises, located on the junction of Herbert Terrace and Stanwell Road, had been vacant since HSBC closed its Penarth branch last summer, but during the raid on 20th June, at least five police cars were seen outside the building, along with staff from National Grid, who remained for several hours to make it safe.
Shortly after the raid, a spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “Officers attended the former HSBC building on Herbert Terrace at around 1.30pm on Thursday, 20th June, following reports from the community of a strong smell of cannabis.
“They discovered around 500 cannabis plants, a temporary kitchen, bedroom, and laundry room.
“Plant feed and other growing materials were found in the corridors, and a man was arrested. The cannabis has been seized and the property has been made safe.”
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