Ten men jailed for running cannabis business with the potential to generate millions

An investigation into a Nottingham-based organised crime group predominantly operating from Clifton, has resulted in ten men being jailed.

The group - led by Mitchell Edge - specialised in identifying and targeting other cannabis farms to steal crops.

They also ran a highly sophisticated business themselves, involved in cannabis production, supply, and money laundering.

Brad-leigh Cairns, Leo Beales, Sol Sharpe, Liam Kennerdale, Christopher Cope, Cory Rhodes, Benjamin Slodczyk, Saimir Chysa, Mirjan Koxhaj and Thanh Van Ngo were all members of the group that conspired with Edge to commit burglary or cultivate cannabis, then sell the drugs on across Nottinghamshire and beyond.

Edge was involved in every burglary, and would call upon the men as and when he needed them.

The court heard he was the leader and the gang all reported back to him.

An investigation by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), uncovered their criminality through their phone data, journeys, and financial records.

It was found the men used a thermal imaging drone to find rival grow locations, and positioned secret cameras to monitor movements - identifying when their targets were unmanned and they could break in to steal their plants.

The organised crime group (OCG) also attached trackers to vehicles used by rival gangs, and conducted surveillance for weeks before they attacked their grows, entering properties wearing balaclavas as they did so.

Locations they targeted included addresses in Lenton, St Ann's, Mapperley, Hucknall and Basford, and even as far as Reading, Bedford, Doncaster and Leicester.

Detectives from EMSOU found they were also running three major cannabis growing operations themselves.

At one grow in Clifton, 315 cannabis plants were discovered, with an estimated wholesale value of up to £264,000.

At another in Luton, 233 plants were seized with an estimated wholesale value of up to £195,572.

At the third, in Colwick, a massive industrial-scale operation was uncovered. 1,768 cannabis plants were seized with an estimated wholesale value of almost £1.5 million.

Evidence suggested the grows may have been in operation for around a year.

Mitchell Edge was identified as the leader of the burglary plans, the co-ordinator of cannabis farms, facilitator of wholesale cannabis supply, and the controller of financial movements.

An iPhone seized from Edge provided the most important evidence for officers, who found plans, messages, videos of burglaries, grow updates, key financial records and links to almost every suspect.

Financial investigations showed the men had unexplained wealth - with several members of the OCG showing little or no declared employment, but a significant bank turnover as a result of their criminality.

DI Claire Bibby, who was SIO in the investigation said: “This was a long-running, organised and professional criminal enterprise operating nationally from Nottingham.

“The group were prolific in their offending, and stole cannabis from rival grows, ran their own large-scale cannabis production and distribution network. It was a very sophisticated set up, which had the potential to generate millions of pounds.

“The threat and risk posed by Edge and his associates was significant due to the cannabis grows that they targeted, being owned by rival OCG's. The offenders would raid properties armed with weapons including machetes, knifes and baseball bats, creating a high-risk situation and potential for harm should they be confronted.

“Our investigation focused on eliminating that risk, as well as prosecuting the men for their crimes.

“I’m glad the judge has seen the severity of this offending and has jailed the group for as long as he has. Working with Nottinghamshire Police, we will stop at nothing to dismantle these OCGs.”

All eleven men appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Friday 9 October, where they were jailed for more than 60 years.

A full list of their charges, pleas and sentences is below:

• Mitchell Edge, 24, of Green Acre, Edwalton – pleaded guilty on day three of trial to conspiracy to burgle, two counts of conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (Cannabis), three counts of conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis). He was jailed for eleven years, three months.
• Brad-leigh Cairns, 30, of Highwray Grove, Nottingham – pleaded guilty on day three of trial to conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (Cannabis), and conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis). He was jailed for nine years.
• Sol Sharpe, 24, of Highbank Drive, Nottingham – pleaded guilty on day three of trial to conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (Cannabis). He was also sentenced for a previous offence of conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal. He was jailed for five years, four months.
• Leo Beales, 23, of HMP Nottingham – pleaded guilty on day three of trial to conspiracy to burgle. He was also sentenced for a previous offence of conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal, and was jailed for five years, four months.
• Christopher Junior Cope, 25, of London Road, Leicester – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle, and was jailed for four years, nine months.
• Cory Rhodes, 30, of HMP Nottingham – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle. He was also sentenced for a previous offence of conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal and domestic violence, and was jailed for eight years, eight months.
• Liam Kennerdale, 41, of HMP Nottingham – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (Cannabis). He was jailed for three years, six months.
• Saimir Chysa, 32, of Bexwell Close, Nottingham – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis), and conspiracy to supply a Class B drug (Cannabis). He was jailed for three years, six months.
• Mirjan Koxhaj, 37, of Belconnen Road, Nottingham – pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis), and conspiracy to supply a Class B drug (Cannabis). He was jailed for four years.
• Thanh Van Ngo, 31, of Serlby Rise, Nottingham – found guilty of conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis), and possession of criminal property (namely money in a bank account). He was jailed for five years.
• Benjamin Slodczyk, 36, of Waterdown Road, Nottingham – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis) and was jailed for 18 months (suspended for two years).

Officers from EMSOU also applied for an order for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and paraphernalia which was seized. This was granted by the court as part of sentencing.

The team will now start confiscation work under the Proceeds of Crime Act, to ensure the offenders repay their ill-gotten gains, and any assets or profits obtained through their criminal activities are recovered.