Estate agent director jailed after 19 cannabis factories found in Luton
The director of an estate agency who helped facilitate the running of 19 cannabis factories in Luton has been jailed for more than eight years.
Sarfraz Farooq, 46, director of Condor Estates, was sentenced to eight years and four months at Luton Crown Court on Thursday (September 10).
Four other men were also sentenced, with the group receiving more than 14 years in prison time between them.
Bedfordshire Police's Operation Costello team uncovered a sophisticated, organised crime network involving cannabis cultivation, fraudulent tenancy agreements, hydroponic equipment and money laundering.
Police raided 20 properties in 2024 – 19 in Luton and one in Milton Keynes.
Cannabis factories were found at 19 of the properties, while growing equipment was discovered at the other.
Almost 2,000 cannabis plants were recovered, with an estimated value of up to £800,000.
Police said the plants could have produced cannabis worth more than £2 million on the street over 12 months if the properties had not been discovered.
Police found that Farooq used properties belonging to genuine landlords who believed their homes were being legitimately rented out.
He produced fraudulent documentation, including false tenancy agreements, which were used to facilitate the cannabis cultivation.
Uan Gogu, 42, played a central role in setting up the factories, using properties linked to Farooq and arranging for specialist hydroponic equipment to be installed.
He was also involved in bypassing electricity meters, creating significant safety risks and causing fires at three properties.
Zohaib Riaz Ali, 33, helped the operation by purchasing hydroponic equipment.
Mohammed Farooq, 76, bought a property in cash which was later found to be operating as a cannabis factory.
Glentjan Sefaj, 29, was also involved in the conspiracy operation.
Sarfraz Farooq, of St Catherines Avenue, Luton, was sentenced to eight years and four months' imprisonment for conspiracy offences and fraudulent activity, he was also disqualified from acting as a company director for 10 years.
Uan Gogu, from Ashcroft Road, Luton, was sentenced to six and a half years for conspiracy offences and possession relating to the cannabis factories.
Zohaib Riaz Ali, from Biscot Road, Luton, received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for intentionally encouraging the offence.
Glentjan Sefaj, from Latimer Drive, Hornchurch, was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months, for conspiracy.
Mohammed Farooq, from 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 Bedfordshire Police's Operation Costello team, said: "These sentences represent a significant result against an organised criminal network that was operating cannabis factories on an industrial scale across our county.
"Drug dealing goes far beyond street dealers. Behind what the public sees, this type of high-level criminality relies on a network of individuals carrying out different roles, from sourcing properties and producing fraudulent documentation to supplying specialist equipment and maintaining cultivation sites.
"But the impact and dangers of these factories go beyond the growth of cannabis plants. Behind this network are victims who had their homes destroyed and left in a state of disrepair.
"Operation Costello is committed to identifying and disrupting every part of the organised crime chain, including those who enable criminal activity for financial gain.
"These convictions send a clear message that we will pursue everyone involved and bring them before the courts.
"We continue to urge communities to report suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods. What may appear to be anti-social behaviour can often be an indicator of much wider organised criminality, and the information we receive from the public plays a vital role in helping us tackle it."