ELEVEN people set for FOUR MONTH trial over major Norwich cannabis operation |
The defendants were arrested in connection with cannabis found growing at a number or sites in the city between 2018 and 2020.
The Upton Close address where cannabis was found (Image: Newsquest)
These include an address at Upton Close, Norwich where police seized 600 cannabis plants worth £240,000 in October 2018.
Other sites include Bury Street, Glenmore Gardens, Quebec Road, Bluebell Road, Three Corners Drive in Old Catton, and Roe Drive in Earlham Rise.
A total of 11 defendants are due to stand trial at King's Lynn Crown Court on March 30, 2027, having denied charges, including being concerned in the production of cannabis between August 2018 and May 2020.
King's Lynn Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)
Other charges include two counts of converting criminal property - between January 2013 and December 2020 and then from August 2018 to December 2020.
Alfred Underwood, prosecuting, said this had been an "attempt to produce a large quantity of cannabis".
The trial is currently expected to last four months, although a further case management hearing held at Norwich Crown Court on Friday heard that could yet be shortened.
Mr Underwood said there was to be a meeting with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police officers to see whether this trial could be "severed in some way", meaning there could be separate trials involving fewer defendants.
The defendants accused in relation to the production of cannabis are:
Besnik Ademaj, 50, of Sunningdale, Norwich, Jianping Liu, 40, of Alicante Way, Earlham Rise, Norwich, Albert Ademaj, 52, of Suningdale, Norwich, Enver Tocilla, 51, of Northampton, Ferdinand Axhami, 30, of Fernhill, Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, Fatjon Dida, 37, of Vanguard Chase, Costessey, Gentian Dida, 28, of Devonshire Street, Norwich, and Ermir Rusta, of Gunton Road, West Earlham, Norwich.
While those accused of converting criminal property between January 2013 and December 2020 are:
Lian Xia, 40, of Alicante Way, Earlham Rise, Norwich, Jie Xia, 35, of Bluebell Road, Norwich, Feifei Ji, 37, of Bluebell Road, Norwich and Liu.
Besnik Ademaj alone stands accused of converting criminal property between August 2018 and December 2020.
Albanian and Mandarin interpreters appeared in court to help translate proceedings for the defendants.
Judge Andrew Shaw adjourned the case for a further mention on June 26 for an update as to what might happen.