AN ALBANIAN couple who lived in Northfield have been jailed after cannabis and cash were found at their home.
Kristian Lleshi, 35, and Xhulijana Trimi, 29, were arrested at the house on Cornbrook Road, Shenley Green, in September last year.
Investigators from the National Crime Agency (NCA) searched the house. There, they found two large bin bags in the loft containing 7kg of cannabis in vacuum-packed bags and a further 2kg in a TK MAXX bag on the landing.
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They also recovered a total of £51,450 in cash which had been hidden at various locations around the home. These included a wallet and bag in the dressing room, in the bedside table, in a protein shake container, wardrobe in the main bedroom and under the bed in the second bedroom.
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Numerous items of high value were also seized including gold jewellery, handbags and shoes.
The pair were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis and money laundering offences.
Denial
Lleshi gave a no comment interview but Trimi said she was not aware of the drugs or cash. She said she had only known Lleshi for three months through a car wash in Banbury they both worked at and they were not in a relationship.
She also claimed to have bought the high value goods second hand on sites such as eBay and Vinted.
However, her Facebook page showed the couple had been in a relationship since at least 2023. Trimi had commented ‘love u baby’ under an image of them in Cornwall.
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NCA investigators also found receipts which showed direct purchases from Selfridges in cash rather than these items coming from eBay.
A second man in the house was found to be an immigration offender and passed to Immigration Enforcement.
Black country connection
The NCA operation also led to the discovery of a cannabis farm at an address in Dudley. The plants, with an estimated street value of £78,000, were removed and destroyed from the property. Investigations continue regarding that seizure.
Lleshi and Trimi pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court on October 7 and March 4 respectively.
At the same court yesterday (Wednesday), Lleshi was sentenced to two years and two months behind bars and Trimi was jailed for 18 months.
NCA Branch Commander Saju Sasikumar said: “The account given by Trimi as to why her home contained drugs and cash completely lacked credibility.
“Our investigations showed that she and Lleshi were aware of them, and that they were engaged in criminality.
“The NCA works closely with our partners to disrupt the trade in illegal drugs and destroy the business models used by organised crime groups.”
