CHEPSTOW, Wales (Gwent Police) — A 36-year-old man has been jailed for 12 months after admitting to running a large cannabis farm worth over £180,000. Artan Dedia pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis when he appeared at Merthyr Crown Court on January 22.
Police raided a disused five-storey building on Chepstow High Street, previously occupied by TUI, on November 4, 2024. Inside, officers discovered a sophisticated cannabis factory with 652 plants across eight rooms, including the attic. The factory was equipped with hydroponic systems for cultivating the class B drug.
The operation was part of Gwent Police’s larger effort, Operation Altar, which aims to disrupt illegal drug trafficking and organised crime in the region. PC Hywel Evans, the Chepstow neighbourhood ward manager, stated, “Every cannabis factory we dismantle helps disrupt these illegal operations and prevents the profits from funding further crime.”
Dedia’s arrest followed reports of suspicious activity from local residents. The raid has helped prevent the illegal drug trade from impacting local communities.