Fourth man from West Midlands organised crime group jailed for operating cannabis grows in Suffolk

A fourth man has been sentenced for drugs offences in connection with the organising of cannabis factories in Suffolk.

Arber Dashi, 27, of Bromford Rise, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to 39 months’ imprisonment at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 25 July.

He was arrested on 6 February for his involvement in an organised crime gang connected to two cannabis factories found in Ipswich and Felixstowe.

In April 2024 officers from Suffolk Constabulary’s Sentinel South team executed a Misuse of Drugs Act search warrant at an address in London Road, Ipswich.

The three-storey property had been converted for the purpose of cannabis cultivation, with a man found hiding in a basement.

In total, officers found seven separate growing areas and a total of 373 cannabis plants. The estimated value of the maximum potential crop from these plants was over £180,000.

Bojken Muhametanji, then aged 23, of no-fixed-abode, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on 23 August 2024 to 20 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to producing a Class B drug - cannabis.

During investigations officers found evidence connecting Arber Dashi to the scene, including a fingerprint, as well as phone messages with an individual, which were later proven to be Arber Dashi.

On 21 June 2024 South Sentinel officers stopped a car in the Felixstowe area. A search of the vehicle uncovered fertiliser, gloves and several storage bags.

The phone of the driver, Esat Dashi, then aged 27, of Willenhall, West Midlands, contained details of a premises in Langer Road and it was there, during a section 18 search, that officers uncovered 81 cannabis plants and cultivated cannabis.

Also in the property was Thien Le, then aged 41, of no-fixed-abode. He and Esat Dashi were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the production of cannabis.

Both were charged, pleaded guilty and were sentenced on 16 January at Ipswich Crown Court to 33-months in prison.

Again, during investigations evidence, including phones messages, connected the pair to Arbi Dashi.

On 6 February of this year, following an investigation begun by Sentinel South and progressed by the south Serious Crime Disruption Team, officers travelled to the West Midlands and arrested Arber Dashi for being concerned in the production of cannabis.

He was found to be in possession of a Peugeot car key and, when this vehicle was searched, officers found pesticide and grow chemicals typically used in cannabis cultivation.

Arber Dashi was subsequently charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis and remanded in custody.

On 7 March Arber Dashi appeared at Ipswich Crown Court where he pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set.

On 6 June, less than three weeks before trial, Arber Dashi again appeared at Ipswich Crown Court where he changed his plea to guilty.

In July 2025, Arber Dashi submitted a basis of plea where he admitted knowledge of the cannabis grow in London Road.

On 25 July, Arber Dashi appeared at Ipswich Crown Court where the judge was satisfied he had been in contact with the gardeners at both of the located cannabis grows and had been at least as concerned if not more than Esat Dashi in the production of cannabis.

He was sentenced to 39 months’ imprisonment.

Following the sentencing, Sergeant Dave Logan, of Sentinel South, said: “The above is a good example of how Sentinel South and SCDT South have worked together to not only secure convictions and shut down two large cannabis grows that had the potential to produce cannabis with a value of over £200,000, but also maximise the opportunities for upstream investigation and take out key members of a cannabis cultivation organised crime gang.”

If you suspect drug activity report this via the website: www.suffolk.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/, call 101, or alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers to report anonymously – either online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.