Four men arrested in Newmarket jailed for drug offences

Four people who pleaded guilty to drug offences after being arrested in Newmarket have been jailed for terms totalling more than six years.

On 23 January officers from the West Area Sentinel ANPR team stopped a vehicle in Church Lane, Newmarket, with the driver of the vehicle, Valentin Hasani, 23, of London Road, London detained for a search under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. During searches, items consistent with those used to produce cannabis were located and Hasani was arrested.

Quick enquiries by officers identified an address in St Mary’s Square in the town.

A cannabis grow was discovered at the address and inside a second male Enerik Visha, 21, of Evering Road, London, was located along with 150 cannabis plants.

While officers were present at the address two males Vilson Hyara, 33, and Jeta Lushi, 27, both of no-fixed-abode, attempted to enter the address. Officers challenged them with Hyara arrested, while Lushi was arrested by officers after a short foot chase.

All four males were subsequently charged and remanded in custody with various offences.

On Thursday 22 May the four men appeared at Cambridge Crown Court where they pleaded guilty. They were sentenced as follows:

• Hasani was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for possessing false documents with the intent to deceive and being concerned in the production of cannabis.
• Visha was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for being concerned in the production of cannabis.
• Hyara was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for being concerned in the production of cannabis.
• Lushi was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment for possessing false documents with the intent to deceive and being concerned in the production of cannabis.

Sgt George Laflin said: “This is a great result coming from good-police work and quick -thinking which left the offenders with no choice but to enter guilty pleas due to the overwhelming evidence against them.

“We will continue to develop and act on intelligence to catch those responsible for drug-dealing and associated crime in our county.”

The arrest and investigation was led by the Sentinel West team. The three Sentinel teams across the south, west and eastern areas of the county provide enhanced coverage of Suffolk’s road network to proactively disrupt serious and organised criminal activity as well as increase police visibility. The mobile unit disrupts criminals and protects communities across Suffolk’s road network using a variety of techniques to deal with offenders involved.

If you suspect drug activity report this via the website www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/report-something/report-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.