A DRUG gang who fled across rooftops when police raided a multi-million-pound cannabis farm at a former bank in Rugby town centre have been jailed.
At Warwick Crown Court, seven men were given jail sentences ranging from 25 to 33 months after pleading guilty to being concerned in the production of cannabis.
Police raided the building in North Street on March 8 following reports of the smell of cannabis coming from it.
Four floors in the building had been transformed for the cultivation of cannabis, with a sophisticated set-up and bypassed electrics.
Officers found more than 1,100 plants at various stages of maturity with an estimated street value of £2.8million.
As the officers forced entry, five of the gang managed to escape through a hatch in the attic space that took them out to the roof.
CCTV operators contacted the officers to say they could see the men running across the roofs of adjacent buildings.
More officers were called in to help with the chase, and the offenders were detained.
Two offenders were arrested in the building.
Det Cons Matt Rapkins from Rugby Proactive CID said: “This was a significant operation with four floors adapted for the sole purpose of producing cannabis on an industrial scale.
“We found this cannabis factory thanks to information provided by members of the community. If you suspect drug activity in your neighbourhood, please report your concerns to police so we can take action and those involved can be brought to justice.”
Arlind Nezaj, 20, of no fixed abode and Benard Leshi, 23, of Newton St Cyres in Devon were jailed for 33 months
Ismail Deda, 30, and Esmir Selmani, 28, both of no fixed abode, were jailed for 32 months
Aleks Frroku, 22, and Serian Vata, 26, both of no fixed abode, were respectively jailed for 31 and 26 months.
Arsen Sejdia, 31, of Peyto Close, Coventry was jailed for 25 months.
