**Recycling Centre Workers Uncover Major Cannabis Operation After Discovery in Black Bags**
A seemingly routine day at a Welsh recycling centre quickly escalated into the unmasking of a significant drugs operation, underscoring the vital role that observant citizens and staff can play in thwarting crime. The incident unfolded at a recycling facility in Aberystwyth, where workers’ curiosity and subsequent actions triggered a chain of events leading to the takedown of a cannabis production network valued at nearly a quarter of a million pounds.
The episode began when a hired Ford Transit van drew up at the recycling centre. Three men alighted and proceeded to offload four or five black bags — presumably containing everyday waste. However, when staff at the centre decided to inspect the contents, what they found was far from the ordinary.
Inside the bags lay clear evidence of a dismantled cannabis cultivation site. Recognising the possible criminal implications, quick-thinking employees promptly alerted Dyfed-Powys Police, setting the wheels in motion for an investigation that would have broader implications for the area’s fight against drug crime.
Later the same day, police traced and stopped the van as it travelled between Aberystwyth and Cardigan. Three men, including 20-year-old Manuel Nerguti, were detained on suspicion of involvement in cannabis supply. Despite this, the suspects were initially released, as officers could not immediately locate an active cannabis grow.
However, the story did not end there. Approximately a month after the first encounter, police acting on fresh intelligence executed a warrant at a derelict house in Bridell, near Cardigan. The raid uncovered a full-scale cannabis factory: 260 mature plants were discovered straddling five rooms and an attic space, with electrical systems having been illicitly diverted to power the operation. The property was laden with evidence of drug production, further implicating those involved.
In the course of the search on 7 June, Nerguti attempted a futile escape, hiding behind a washing machine in the residence’s garage before being found and arrested. The magnitude of the operation was such that police estimated its street value at £240,000, drawing renewed attention to the ongoing battle against illicit drug activities in Welsh communities.
Appearing before Swansea Crown Court on 11 July, Nerguti admitted producing a class B drug. The judge sentenced him to six months in prison, marking a significant outcome in a case made possible largely through the diligence of local workers and the community-focused efforts of Dyfed-Powys Police.
Detective Constable Sam Garside, who led the case, praised the recycling centre employees for their vigilance. He stated, “The outcome of this case highlights the importance of community awareness. Our work depends, in part, on the public and key workers reporting suspicious incidents promptly.” Garside hoped the case would encourage others in the community to come forward whenever they spot something unusual, emphasising that every tip-off could be the key to preventing criminal activity.
The raid in Cardigan also coincided with broader efforts by Dyfed-Powys Police to crack down on illegal drug operations across the region. Officers continue to urge members of the public to remain alert, stressing their commitment to disrupting criminal enterprises wherever they arise.
This incident serves as a timely reminder that the vigilance of ordinary individuals can have extraordinary consequences. Thanks to the actions of recycling centre staff, a potentially damaging criminal network has been curtailed, delivering both a tangible result for law enforcement and a powerful message of community resilience.