Illegal Albanian immigrant took job growing cannabis in Kington to pay £22,000 debt

An illegal Albanian immigrant who racked up £22,000 debts to get to the UK, took a job growing cannabis in Kington to pay it off.

Saimir Kotorri was in charge of watering the plants and monitoring the lighting at the four floor cannabis factory at 8 Headbrook in Kington.

He was sentenced to two years in prison at Worcester Crown Court on Friday.

There were six grow rooms on the first floor, second floor and in the attic of the semi-detached house, a separate drying room for harvested plants and a nursery area for new seedlings.

A drug expert told the court that the value of the grow and the quantities seized, without the seedlings, would weigh between 11.4 and 34.4 kilograms and if sold in £10 street deals they would bring in between £114,800 and £344,000.

The 39 year-old appeared at court via a video link form prison and was aided thoughout the hearing by an Albanian interpreter.

Prosecuting, Ms Megan Fletcher-Smith said Kotorri had pleaded guilty at the first hearing in the magistrates court.

She said: “He came to the UK illegally, it was paid for by someone who said they would pay him for house decorating. But he was not paid as much as he expected and he had built up a debt of £22,000 for his travel to the UK and his accommodation here.

“He was told that if he stayed in this house, learned how to grow and if he stayed for three yields from January to April then his debt would be wiped and he would earn £5,000.”

Kotorri was arrested on March 24 2026 and he received nothing for the work he undertook.

The court was told officers attended at 8 Headbook in Kington on March 24 after receiving reports that cannabis was growing there.

Ms Fletcher-Smith said officers could smell cannabis outside.

As they entered, Kotorri came out from behind a curtain and refused to acknowledge the officers. He appeared panicked.

Inside the property had been converted into various cannabis grow rooms, and there were plants and growing paraphernalia within. There was one bedroom for the male occupant, as well as a fully equipped kitchen and a fully stocked fridge.

The total number of plants in the grow rooms was 326 and there were also 372 seedlings in specialist grow tents and seed trays in the nursery and in the drying room there were 85 flowering plants hung up.

In total there were 783 plants and bags of cannabis remnants in a laundry bag and a vacuum bag with a total weight of 14.99 kilos which in £10 street deals would have a value of about £145,900.

Ms Fletcher-Smith said the plants were weeks away from harvest and previous yields had been harvested according to the drug expert, who said this was a commercial-sized set up.

Kotorri was arrested and gave no comment interviews. He has no previous convictions in the UK or abroad.

Mitigating, Ms Lizzie Banahan said Kotorri had been in the UK illegally for about nine months.

She said: “He came here to get a better life and earn a better wage for his family. When he arrived, it did not live up to his expectations and he was not paid as much as he expected.

“He had accumulated a debt of £22,000 for his entry into the UK and his lodgings. He found himself here with limited means, nowhere to stay and unable to speak the language.

“He decided to work with a cannabis farm under threats from those who helped him into the country to pay for his debts. He saw this as his only option and he stayed there for two months while he worked to pay off the debt.”

Ms Banahan said all of Kotorri’s family, including his 18 month old son, remain in Albania and he wanted to return to them. He was told if he worked for another month he could earn enough to return home.

“It was at the beginning of that month that he was arrested for this offence,” she said.

Ms Banahan said he was effectively a gardener and there was an element of exploitation.

“He is remorseful for what occurred. He has been in custody since March this year and he is isolated from his family and they have not been able to visit him. He has attempted to complete an English course and made good use of his time in custody but it has been a difficult experience for him and he wants to return to Albania as soon as possible. He accepts responsibility for his actions.”

Judge Jackson said: “The cannabis factory was producing large quantities of cannabis for sale .

“Even if you were under the direction of others you were still placed in a position of considerable trust by the people in charge of the factory. You were free to come and go as you wished from the house and not only did you work there to pay off the £22,000 debt but you stayed on to earn further money for yourself to return to Albania

“I accept that you came to the UK looking for work not involving criminality but you placed yourself in the hands of organised criminals in order to enter the country in the first place and you were then prepared to engage in further criminal activity to pay off your debt and earn money to return to Albania.

“This was an operation capable of producing significant amounts of cannabis for commercial sale.”

Judge Jackson gave Kotorri a two year prison sentence, although his time already spent in custody will count towards his sentence.

He told Kotorri he will likely be deported to Albania on release from prison and if not, he will be on licence and supervised.

He ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs, plants and growing paraphernalia and the forfeiture of £88.32 and two mobile phones found on Kotorri when he was arrested.