Eight people in court on drugs charges

9:52pm Tuesday 24th June 2008

Four people have been remanded in custody after admitting conspiracy to produce cannabis.

And at least two of them look likely to face deportation when they are sentenced.

A further four people are to face trial by jury after pleading not guilty to taking part in the conspiracy between the start of August last year and mid-February.

The eight people, six men and two women were appearing in the dock together at Swindon Crown Court in relation to cannabis farms found in Swindon. They were accused of conspiracy to produce a controlled drug of class C between August 1, 2007 and February 12, 2008.

Vietnamese man Thanh Nguyen, 25, Dang Loan, a 19-year Vietnamese woman, and Albanian men Artan Veliu, 31, and Julian Shaqiri, 27, all pleaded guilty.

Albanians Mustafa Duka, 25, brothers Aurel Kollabani, 25, and Elis Kollabani, 24, and Vietnamese woman Thi Nguyen, 22, all pleaded not guilty.

Shaqiri, of Crawford Close, Freshbrook, also admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply on February 11.

Loan, of Lambeth, south London, initially gave the police her daughter's name and wished to be deported home as soon as possible, solicitor Mike Pulsford told the court.

Rob Ross, for Shaqiri, added his client had been served with the appropriate immigration papers and had volunteered for deportation.

Judge Douglas Field said because the trial would take more than two weeks it was being transferred to Bristol. He adjourned the case for three weeks.

Thanh Nguyen, of The Sidings, Handsworth, Birmingham; Veliu, of Torun Way, Swindon; Shaqiri and Loan, were remanded in custody as was Duka, of no fixed abode.

The Kollabani brothers, who live together on Brunel Crescent and Thi Nguyen, of Birmingham, were released on conditional bail.

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