Three men have been found guilty of their involvement in a violent brawl sparked over a cannabis factory in Luton.
Edison Lilaj, 34, Gezim Brahimaj, 36 and Albiont Kucai, 33, have all been convicted of several offences, including firearms and drug offences, in relation to the incident in Hallwicks Road, Luton, which occurred in the early hours of March 3, 2021.
During the seven-week trial at Luton Crown Court, the jury heard that several members of the public called the police saying there had been gun shots fired and people fighting with weapons.
Vehicles were also seen to be chasing and colliding with each other within the vicinity.
The fight occurred after some individuals attempted to break into a nearby property, which was being rented, and police later discovered was being used as a cannabis factory.
A man, who was present in the property at the time, called his associates who arrived at the scene armed with weapons.
Lilaj, Brahimaj and Kucai were arrested a few weeks later, following search warrants in Luton and Shefford, and charged with a number of offences relating to the incident.
During the searches, officers found one of the vehicles involved, two phones that were used during the day it happened, two large bags of cannabis, almost £20,000 in cash and bank statements detailing accounts containing a total of around £42,000.
Other expensive items were also seized, including a receipt for a watch worth over £2,000.
A water bill for the rented property which housed the cannabis factory was also discovered.
On Monday, March 6, 2023, the three men were convicted of the following offences and are due to be sentenced on April 18.
Edison Lilaj of Axon Paddock, Shefford, was found guilty of violent disorder.
Gezim Brahimaj of Somersby Close, Luton, was found guilty of violent disorder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to produce a controlled drug and possessing criminal property.
Albiont Kucai of Stockingstone Road, Luton, was found guilty of conspiracy to cultivate cannabis, assisting an offender, and possessing criminal property.
Detective Inspector Justine Jenkins, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “This has been a very complex investigation and I am pleased that three key players involved in this are now facing time behind bars.
“Such violence on the streets of Bedfordshire is completely disgraceful and we won’t stand for it in our communities.
“Unfortunately, drugs continue to be the most significant driver of serious violence in our county, with cannabis factories being a huge issue as they are a good source of income for organised crime groups.
“They therefore become a target for rival gangs, which in turn brings anti-social behaviour and violent crime into residential streets, which is what happened in this case.
“We are doing all we can to combat this but would urge anyone to report any information of drug activity to us.”
Some of the signs to keep an eye out for are in relation to suspected cannabis factories include:
- Blacked out windows, often disguised by net curtains or blinds
- Excessive condensation on the windows caused by increased humidity
- Permanently locked windows, even in summer
- An excessive amount of plant pots, chemicals, fertilisers and compost
- Chemical or pungent smells
Anyone with information about drug activity can contact police on 101 or online at https://www.beds.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/
All these reports are fed into police intelligence systems and can help officers build up a picture of organised crime in the county.
People can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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