Four men jailed for 27 months each over 715-plant Droylsden cannabis farm
Minshull Street Crown Court jailed four men for 27 months each on 23 November 2021 over an industrial-scale cannabis farm found at Gartside Farm in Droylsden that February. Officers spent over ten hours searching the site and removed 715 plants that police valued at about £670,000.
🇬🇧 Gartside Farm, Sunnyside Lane, Droylsden · United Kingdom
Minshull Street Crown Court jailed four men for 27 months each over an
industrial-scale cannabis farm at Gartside Farm on Sunnyside Lane in Droylsden.[1][2]Alban Xhika, Erin Canaj, Andri Koci and Saimir Doda, all of no fixed abode,
were sentenced on Tuesday 23 November 2021 after pleading guilty to producing
cannabis.[1][2]
Police found the farm in February 2021 and spent more than ten hours searching
the site, removing 715 cannabis plants that officers valued at about £670,000.[1][2]Officers also seized equipment including three industrial-sized
generators.[1][2]The four men were found living at the property when they were
arrested.[2]
The raid was part of Operation Challenger, Greater Manchester Police’s
operation against organised crime across the region.[1][2]Detective Constable
Rick McIvor of the Tameside Challenger unit said the operation was
sophisticated and large-scale and called its removal a step forward in
disrupting criminals profiting from illegal drugs.[1][2]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
Darren Davis, 39, a homeless man, and his partner Catherine Evans, 36, were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court in November 2026 for dealing 'spice' and a small cannabis quantity. Police found Davis carrying six bags of spice worth up to £750 on 2 June, and later searches of his hostel, a storage unit and Evans' home uncovered more drugs and thousands of pounds in cash.
Joel Niven, 20, of Walney near Barrow-in-Furness, was convicted of cannabis possession after officers recovered a sealed bag from him at Barrow Park. Magistrates fined him £80, ordered £117 in costs and surcharge, and sought forfeiture of the drugs. He had a previous caution for cannabis possession from December 2025.
Rorie Jeffs, 25, of Aylesbury, was found guilty of possession of cannabis at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court and ordered to pay £85 plus a further £26 surcharge. He was one of the most recent cases concluded at the court as reported in the 10 November 2026 round-up.
Three men were each jailed for four years over a large-scale cannabis factory in Greenock's former Tobacco Warehouse, raided in June 2025 with more than 1,000 plants. Ariel Ruko has appealed his sentence, with a hearing due at the High Court in Edinburgh on 17 November 2026.
