A 46-year-old estate agent, Sarfraz Farooq, has been sentenced to eight years and four months in prison after being convicted of orchestrating large-scale cannabis cultivation operations in multiple properties across Luton. Farooq was found to have created false tenancy agreements for 19 properties managed through Condor Estates, which authorities said were used to facilitate the illegal activity.
Police raids on the properties uncovered nearly 2,000 cannabis plants, estimated to have a street value of approximately £800,000. The investigation identified Farooq’s role in the cannabis conspiracy as well as associated fraudulent practices related to the falsified tenancy documentation.
In addition to Farooq’s sentence, four other men implicated in the operation received a combined total of 14 years in prison. The coordinated effort to establish industrial-scale cannabis factories was described by Detective Chief Inspector Simon Mullan as a significant example of organized criminal activity impacting the county.
“These sentences represent a significant result against an organised criminal network operating cannabis factories on an industrial scale across our county,” DCI Mullan commented, highlighting the impact of the operation and subsequent prosecutions.
The case underscores ongoing concerns related to the exploitation of residential properties for illicit drug production and the associated risks posed to local communities. Authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling similar criminal enterprises through continued investigations and enforcement actions.