Two drug dealers have been sentenced to a total of three years and nine months in prison for their involvement in producing cannabis in Ipswich.

Nikolin Marku, 31, and Aleksander Gjoni, 25, were before Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday for their involvement in a cannabis farm at Cullingham Road.

Officers had stopped a vehicle in Dunlop Road in Ipswich on February 14 and were able to link the address to Gjoni, who had been a passenger in the car.

Officers later witnessed another man attend the address and place filled bin bags into his vehicle. The vehicle was later stopped and the bags were found to contain numerous cannabis plants. 

The driver was Marku, of Trentham Court, London.

He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis in February 2024 and to production of cannabis on or before February 2024.

Cannabis was discovered inside an address in Cullingham Road.Cannabis was discovered inside an address in Cullingham Road. (Image: Suffolk police)

He initially denied the offences but changed his pleas in June and was sentenced to three years in prison for his role.

Nikolin Marku was jailed for three years.Nikolin Marku was jailed for three years. (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

Gjoni, of Foxglove Court, Wembley admitted production of cannabis and entered pleas on the basis of being a gardener at the address and pleaded guilty to using a motor vehicle without insurance.

He was arrested at the property in Cullingham Road following a police search and the discovery of the cannabis plants.

The court heard there were 170 seedlings at the address, with 27 large plants.  

Gjoni was sentenced to nine months in prison for his role.

Aleksander Gjoni was jailed for nine months.Aleksander Gjoni was jailed for nine months. (Image: Suffolk police)

Police officers said the electricity supply to the building had been bypassed and significant growing equipment had been purchased suggesting the involvement of an organised crime group.

Police discovered cannabis in the back of a car.Police discovered cannabis in the back of a car. (Image: Suffolk police)

Marku was said to have played a leading role in the buying and selling with close links to the original source.

Both men’s fingerprints were found on pots throughout the address.

In mitigation, the court heard that Marku has a partner who is struggling to support herself and that he had become involved in drug dealing because he was also struggling for money.  

The court heard Gjoni became involved because he had gambling debts he had to pay off.