Two Albanian nationals are at risk of deportation for their role in the production of more than 1000 cannabis plants, a court has heard.

Marjan Markaj and Pashko Malota were arrested due to a raid on the CB Furniture warehouse on Shaw Street, Great Lever, on June 1.

The pair agreed to care for the cannabis farm to clear the debt incurred for their transit into the UK on lorries a number of years ago, Bolton Crown Court was told.

Only a matter of days ahead of the raid, Markaj and Malota were taken to the warehouse and were told to remain inside it at all costs.

Prosecutor Niamh Ingham said the police seized cannabis plants with a total of more than 60kg of the drug between them, as well as almost 8kg of the drug in bags. They charged Markaj and Malota with the production of a class B substance, which both of them admitted in court two days afterwards.

The Bolton News: Marjan MarkajMarjan Markaj (Image: GMP)

In mitigation for Markaj, of no fixed address, Neil Ronan said the 30-year-old felt like he had no choice but to take the offer of work. 

Mr Ronan said: "He was left with no choice but to take this opportunity to pay back the debt, having bitten off more than he could chew in coming to the country."

In mitigation for Malota, of no fixed address, Niamh McGinty said the 34-year-old was homeless and slept in a park before the offer of work.

Ms McGinty said: "He was involved through naivety. He was told that he had the debt to pay back and that this was the only way to do this."

At the crux of the case was whether the involvement of Markaj and Malota was a 'lesser role' or a 'significant role'.

The Bolton News: Pashko MalotaPashko Malota (Image: GMP)

Judge Tom Gilbart acknowledged the pair, who have no previous convictions, were workers with little or no awareness of the criminal organisation above them.

Addressing them over a video link and via an interpreter this week, he said: "In respect of both of you, this was a lesser role. Whilst you both stood to gain, the existence of this one factor does not mean I must place it into a significant role."

And to Malota, who has an ex-wife with cancer and two children also in the UK, he added: "The result of what you have done is she will be looking after those children alone. I'm afraid that's the consequence of your actions in this case."

Both men were sentenced to 20 months, half of it in prison, half of it on licence.

They were warned of a risk of deportation at the time of their release on licence.