The director of a real estate agency in the UK has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison after using his business to facilitate the operation of an organized network that had set up 19 premises for the cultivation of cannabis.
Five people in total were sentenced to more than 14 years in prison by Luton Crown Court on September 10, following an investigation conducted by the police’s Operation Costello team.
According to Beds police, referred to by Top Channel, the investigation uncovered a sophisticated criminal network operating through the real estate agency “Condor Estates”. The organization was linked to cannabis cultivation, falsified rental contracts, the purchase of hydroponic equipment and money laundering.
In 2024, authorities carried out searches at 20 properties, 19 of them in Luton and one in Milton Keynes. Cannabis cultivation facilities were discovered at 19 of the 20 properties, while cultivation equipment was found at the other property.
In total, police seized nearly 2,000 cannabis plants, with an estimated street value of up to £800,000. According to authorities, if the activity had not been detected, the production of these plants could have generated cannabis with a market value of more than £2 million within just 12 months.
At the centre of the network was Sarfraz Farooq, 46, director of Condor Estates. He was responsible for a significant amount of forged documents, including fake leases for properties that were then used to grow cannabis.
Farooq used apartments owned by landlords who had entrusted the agency with renting them out legally. The landlords were given contracts that they believed were legitimate, along with rent payments.
Also involved in the criminal activity was Uan Gogu, 42, who played a central role in setting up the cannabis cultivation facilities. He used properties linked to Farooq and arranged for the installation of specialist hydroponic equipment.
Gogu was also involved in illegal tampering with electricity meters, creating a major safety hazard. As a result, fires broke out at three of the properties.
The network also included Zohaib Riaz Ali, 33, who helped the operation by purchasing hydroponic equipment. Mohammed Farooq, 76, bought a property with cash, which was later discovered to have been converted into a cannabis cultivation facility.
Sarfraz Farooq, of St Catherines Avenue, Luton, was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison for his role in the conspiracy to cultivate cannabis and related fraudulent activities. He was also banned from acting as a company director for 10 years.
Van Gogh, of Ashcroft Road, Luton, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison for offences relating to conspiracy and possession in the context of the activity of cultivating cannabis.
Zohaib Riaz Ali, of Biscot Road, Luton, was sentenced to four months imprisonment suspended for 12 months, after he knowingly incited the commission of the offence.
Also sentenced was Glentjan Sefaj, 29, of Latimer Drive, Hornchurch, to eight months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, for his involvement in the conspiracy.
Mohammed Farooq, 76, of St Catherines Avenue, Luton, received a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months for his role in money laundering.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Mullan, from the Operation Costello team, said the convictions constitute a significant result against an organised crime network that was operating on a large scale across the county.
He emphasized that drug trafficking activity goes beyond street vendors, as such networks rely on individuals with various roles, from securing properties and forging documents, to supplying specialized equipment and maintaining cultivation facilities.
According to him, the consequences of these facilities go beyond cannabis cultivation, as homeowners can face serious damage and properties left in a dilapidated state.
“Operation Costello is committed to identifying and disrupting every part of the organised crime chain, including those who enable criminal activity for financial gain,” Mullan said.
He urged citizens to report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods, emphasizing that what may appear to be antisocial behavior could be a sign of much broader criminal activity.
The police investigation and operation aim to crack down on networks that use legal properties for criminal activities, including cannabis cultivation and money laundering./Top Channel