Two men have been sentenced to 14 months in prison following the discovery of a large-scale cannabis production operation hidden inside a former department store in Slough.
Inside the former BHS store, which had remained empty since the retailer’s collapse in 2016, officers found more than 1,700 cannabis plants spread across two floors. The scale of the operation, which police described as an incredible sight, prompted the immediate arrest of 40-year-old Ajet Begu, of Palmers Green, London, and 27-year-old Aryan Turya, who had no fixed abode.
Investigation and Sentencing
Following the raid, a drug expert witness assessed the seized crop, estimating a potential yield of approximately 150 kilograms. Authorities valued the haul at roughly £1.28 million at street level, with a wholesale value estimated at £525,000. Both Begu and Turya were charged with the production of a controlled Class B drug shortly after their arrest and entered guilty pleas at Reading Magistrates’ Court.
The pair were sentenced at Reading Crown Court on August 21, receiving concurrent prison terms of 14 months. Detective Constable George Randell of the Berkshire East Criminal Investigation Department stated that the operation represented a significant disruption to the local drug supply chain. He noted that the investigation into the site’s connection to wider organised crime networks remains active.
Ongoing Police Efforts
The discovery was the result of targeted work by the Berkshire East Neighbourhood Policing Team, which had been monitoring the site. Thames Valley Police have reiterated their commitment to identifying and dismantling drug production facilities, warning that they will continue to pursue those who attempt to exploit local communities for criminal gain.
While the immediate production facility has been dismantled and the two individuals responsible have been sentenced, the force confirmed that inquiries into the broader criminal infrastructure linked to the factory are continuing. Police officials stated that they remain focused on seizing criminal assets and preventing the further distribution of illegal substances in the region.
