Trainee sniffer dogs showcased their incredible skills in a recent drug haul, which saw police officers uncovering a £1.3 million cannabis factory during a workshop for special needs children.
Leicestershire police officers were informed of the major discovery by a security company that specialises in the training of sniffer dogs, after the pooches had been taken along to provide sensory learning for a group of kids with Special Educational Needs.
During the course of the workshop, the canines were repeatedly attracted to the wall of an adjoining unit. At first, the organisers didn't think much of it, and continued on with the workshop. However, once the session came to an end, they decided to take a look at where they were sniffing, and found thousands of cannabis plants.
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When police arrived to raid the premises on Thames Street, officers found three men hiding in a storage cupboard along with a crop that covered almost the entirety of the top floor. Renald Dema, 21, Ali Hoxha, 29, and Juljan Jaku, 24, were later arrested and charged with cultivating cannabis. Given the circumstances of their discovery, all of them admitted to the charge.
Dema was sentenced to two years and three months behind bars, while Hoxha was handed two years and nine months, and Jaku was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail.
The incident unfolded in November last year, with sentencing taking place earlier this month. 'During the workshop, the dogs have repeatedly gone to the wall of the adjoining unit where the cannabis was later found after the workshop had ended. When officers attended the unit they found cannabis plants of various sizes with a street value of £1.3 million,' a police spokesperson said.
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'This was a significant discovery which not only led to three people being arrested but also stopped more than a £1 million worth of drugs hitting our streets,' Detective Inspector Ross Dimmock, from Leicestershire Police, also said.
'Those responsible for this cannabis factory thought their actions would go unnoticed and undiscovered but they were wrong. We would like to thank the person reporting the discovery for their assistance and support during the investigation and subsequent leading proceedings.
'Drugs are a plight on society and lead to criminality and the breakdown of relationships and families. We take these offences extremely seriously and will do all in our powers to bring people to justice.'
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Cameron Frew