A landlord who searched  ‘how do police find out if you grow cannabis in your house’ has been sentenced.

Marc Anthony, 59, was convicted of conspiracy to produce cannabis and possession of criminal property, and for his involvement in letting properties, to be used for the cultivation of cannabis.

Klevist Hoxhaj, 44, and Altin Gjoka, 52, who were acting as middle men in the network, were also convicted for conspiracy to produce cannabis. 

They obtained the role of overseeing the everyday running of the cannabis factories including the people who worked in them.

Bedfordshire police force’s Operation Costello team launched an investigation following a warrant at a property in Bedford in 2022, where it was discovered there was a cannabis factory. 

It was discovered that there was a network of individuals involved in the running of seven related factories.

Several warrants between 2022 and 2023 saw more than 600 plants seized across three of the properties, with cultivation paraphernalia recovered from other properties.

Phone records demonstrated conversations between Anthony, Hoxhaj and Gjoka which highlighted their roles within the organised crime network, and showed the financial gain Anthony received.

Despite denying his awareness of the illicit activities, Anthony’s search history also showed a string of searches relating to cannabis factories, as well as searching ‘how do police find out if you grow cannabis in your house’.

Bow at Huntingdon Crown Court, Anthony, of Bedford, received a three year sentence, suspended for three years, and a 300 hour community service and 20 days rehabiliation.

Hoxhaj, of Bedford, was sentenced to two years and three months suspended for three years, and must carry out 240 hours of unpaid work. 

Gjoka, also of, Bedford, was sentenced to two years and five months, suspended for three years, and must carry out 260 hours of unpaid work.

Operation Costello is a dedicated team to target organised crime and drug empires.

Investigation Officer Summer Hill says: “We are continuing to crackdown on organised criminal networks, and these three men are the latest to be dealt with as part of our pursuit of those who enable large scale drug production.

“Drugs and organised crime have a devastating impact on our communities and are at the root of much anti-social behaviour, knife crime and exploitation.

“Operation Costello takes a strong, bottom-up approach to tackling organised crime by targeting everyone involved — from those causing anti-social behaviour and running large scale illegal cannabis cultivation, to the professional enablers who support criminal groups by supplying materials or allowing their premises to be used.

“We need the community to partner with us on this goal by reporting what they see. 

“It could be as simple as reporting anti-social behaviour in their area – behind that could lie a whole host of criminality that we are committed to tackling at the source.”