Ex-estate agent jailed over 19 cannabis factories

The director of an estate agents who used his business to set up 19 cannabis factories has been sentenced.

Sarfraz Farooq, 46, from Luton, created false tenancy agreements for properties that were used to grow cannabis and was jailed for more than eight years at Luton Crown Court on Thursday.

Police raided 20 properties in Luton and Milton Keynes in 2024 and recovered about 2,000 plants worth about £800,000.

Officers said that if the plants had not been discovered, they could have generated cannabis with a street value of more than £2m in a year.

Uan Gogu, 42, also from Luton, who arranged for specialist equipment to be installed in the properties to cultivate cannabis, was jailed for more than six years.

Police said he caused fires at three of the properties and was involved in bypassing electricity meters, creating significant safety risks.

Farooq used homes belonging to genuine landlords who, police said, trusted the agency to legitimately rent out their properties and were provided with what they believed to be valid tenancy agreements and rental payments.

Farooq was also disqualified from acting as a company director for 10 years.

Mohammed Farooq, 76, from Luton, was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for money laundering.

Det Ch Insp Simon Mullan, from Bedfordshire Police, said: "These convictions send a clear message that we will pursue everyone involved and bring them to the courts."

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