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    09

    Jan 2023

    Last Updated: 09/01/2023
    Crime
    Crime

    Photos show how Albanian drugs gang transformed Harrogate home into cannabis farm

    by John Plummer

    | 09 Jan, 2023
    Comment

    0

    collage-maker-09-jan-2023-02-54-pm

    Police photos have revealed the scale of a cannabis farm run by an Albanian drugs gang at a Harrogate home owned by landlady Yoko Banks.

    Banks, 74, of Scargill Road, was constantly in touch with the drug conspirators but played no active part in the cultivation process.

    She was jailed for three-and-a-half years in August 2021 after she admitted three counts of being concerned in the supply of cannabis

    Last week she was ordered to repay over £142,333 of illegally earned money under the Proceeds of Crime Act at Leeds Crown Court.

    The photos by North Yorkshire Police show how one of her homes on Alexandra Road, close to King's Road, not far from Harrogate town centre, was completely transformed to cultivate the plants. Even the stairs were covered in cannabis.



    Read more:



    • Ex-Harrogate guest house owner ordered to repay £140,000 for role in cannabis racket

    • Roadworks to start on Harrogate's Wetherby Road this week





    Detective Inspector Janine Mitchell, head of financial investigation at the constabulary, said today:

    “The Proceeds of Crime Act allows us to deprive criminals of their illegal income. We will take every opportunity to use the legislation to its capacity to ensure no-one benefits from crime.
    “In this case Banks had knowingly rented out high-end Harrogate properties to the organised crime gang in return for thousands of pounds in rental income.
    “If you suspect anyone of living off illegally earned income, do not hesitate to call the police. If you don’t want to talk to us, you can report it to Crimestoppers anonymously.”


    cannabis farm Harrogate Alexandra Rd Yoko Banks

    Cannabis plants propped up in the house on Alexandra Road.



     

    Yoko Banks

    One of the rooms at the house.



     

    Yoko Banks

    The windows were blocked off to prevent people seeing inside.



     

    Yoko Banks

    The cannabis-covered stairs.



     

    Yoko Banks

     

    Yoko Banks