A MAN was sentenced in court on Wednesday, September 16, after officers uncovered a large-scale cannabis grow at a Bideford property in May.

On Thursday, May 21, the Bideford Neighbourhood Policing team carried out a warrant at a property in the Old Town area of Bideford, where cannabis worth an estimated £300,000 was located and seized.

The cannabis was being grown across three floors, with plants at various stages of maturity and are estimated to have had a yearly street value of £1,000,000.

Albanian national, Saba Tangu, 44, of no fixed abode, was arrested in Bideford in May and was remanded in custody awaiting sentencing, following work by detectives in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to secure charges from the Crown Prosecution Service.

Following a hearing at Exeter Crown Court yesterday, 16 September, Tangu has been sentenced to two years in prison for production of a Class B drug and for knowingly entering the UK in breach of a deportation order.

On completion of his custodial sentence, Tangu will be deported back to Greece.

Neighbourhood Team Leader, Sergeant Glyn Clark, who led the operation, said: “This was a significant result, with drugs worth an estimated £300,000 prevented from reaching the streets of North Devon.

“Disrupting activity on this scale not only tackles organised crime but helps protect some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

“We are very aware that this property has been the source of prolonged and persistent issues for those living nearby, and we recognise the disruption our activity will have caused to neighbouring properties back in May.

“I would like to thank those who reported information to us which allowed us to secure the warrant. I would also like to thank residents for their patience, understanding and continued support whilst we worked in the background to secure an outcome.

“I hope this result sends a clear message that we are committed to tackling drug-related crime and we will continue to act on information provided by our communities.”

Information about suspicious activity can be reported directly to Devon and Cornwall Police.

To do this, please visit the force website or call 101. In an emergency call 999.

Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111, or via the force website.