Key Points
- Albert Hysaj, 42, was found hiding behind a fake wall at an illegal cannabis farm in Aberbargoed, Caerphilly county, in May 2026.
- Gwent Police’s sniffer dog PD Asko located Hysaj using his sense of smell after officers responded to suspicious activity at the Bowen Industrial Estate.
- Police discovered 313 cannabis plants across three rooms in two linked industrial units, plus living quarters with a kitchen and bathroom.
- Hysaj pleaded guilty to producing a Class B controlled substance and was jailed for six months at Cardiff Crown Court on 31 July 2026.
- A second man, aged 40 and from Abertillery, received a suspended sentence after admitting involvement in cannabis production and cocaine supply.
- Gwent Police praised PD Asko for enabling officers to bring Hysaj to justice despite his attempt to evade capture.
Cardiff Police (Wales Times) August 04, 2026 – A police dog played a decisive role in exposing an illegal cannabis operation and locating a man who had hidden behind a fake wall inside the facility, Gwent Police and court records show.
Police dog finds man hiding behind fake wall at cannabis farm is the focus of this report, which details how a sniffer dog’s work led to the dismantling of a large-scale illegal cultivation site in south Wales.
Albert Hysaj, 42, was sentenced to six months in prison after admitting to producing cannabis at uk/local/cardiff/">Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, 31 July 2026, following a raid in May at commercial units on the Bowen Industrial Estate in Aberbargoed, north of Caerphilly.
How Was the Cannabis Farm Discovered?
Officers from Gwent Police’s Criminal Action Team (CAT) were alerted to suspicious activity at business units on the Bowen Industrial Estate in May, prompting a search of the premises. As reported by a WalesOnline journalist, police uncovered 313 cannabis plants spread across three rooms within two adjoining industrial units, along with living accommodation that included a kitchen and a bathroom.
During the search, Hysaj attempted to avoid detection by concealing himself behind a false wall constructed inside the building, according to Gwent Police and BBC reporting. The force’s sniffer dog, PD Asko, was deployed and used his sense of smell to guide officers directly to Hysaj’s hiding place, enabling his arrest.
Second Man Linked to Rental and Drug Supply
Further investigation established that one of the industrial units had been rented by a 40-year-old man from the Abertillery area, as reported by WalesOnline. When officers later arrested him at his home address, they seized cocaine and found evidence on his mobile phone indicating involvement in drug dealing, the outlet said.
Both men appeared for sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court on 31 July. Hysaj pleaded guilty to production of a Class B controlled substance and was jailed for six months, while the 40-year-old admitted involvement in cannabis production and cocaine supply and received a suspended sentence, according to WalesOnline’s court coverage.
What Did Police and Courts Say About the Case?
Insp Laura Paget of Gwent Police’s Criminal Action Team said:
“Every cannabis factory we dismantle helps disrupt these illegal operations, which can often be linked to sophisticated organised crime groups,” as quoted by the BBC.
She added:
“Hysaj tried his best to hide from officers inside the building but he could not evade PD Asko,”
highlighting the dog’s role in locating the suspect. In a statement published on the Gwent Police website, the force said PD Asko used his “superb senses” to find the man hiding behind the fake wall of the cannabis factory in Aberbargoed.
Paget also warned that profits from such operations can fund other criminal activity, and urged the public to report suspicions about drug activity via 101, the force website, or social media channels, as reported by WalesOnline.
Court Outcome and Sentencing Details
At Cardiff Crown Court on 31 July, Hysaj entered a guilty plea to producing a Class B controlled substance and was handed a six-month custodial sentence, according to court reporting by WalesOnline and the BBC. The 40-year-old co-defendant, who admitted involvement in both cannabis production and cocaine supply, was given a suspended sentence, WalesOnline reported.
Background of the Development
Illegal cannabis farms in residential and industrial properties have been a recurring issue in south Wales, with police regularly dismantling large-scale operations and arresting suspects involved in cultivation and supply. Earlier in 2026, South Wales Police uncovered more than 230 cannabis plants at a property in Cathays, Cardiff, where a man was arrested in the attic, and Fatjon Cota, 32, later pleaded guilty to production of a controlled substance, according to Yahoo News UK and The Tab.
Gwent Police and other forces have increasingly relied on trained police dogs to detect hidden suspects and concealed drugs during raids, with recent cases in Cardiff and elsewhere showing canines locating cash, cannabis and other substances hidden in bags, under floorboards and in vegetation, as reported by the Daily Mail and Avon and Somerset Police. The Aberbargoed case fits this pattern, with PD Asko’s detection of Hysaj behind a constructed barrier enabling officers to secure the scene and process the 313 plants found on site.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Local Communities and Drug Markets
The exposure of the Aberbargoed cannabis farm and the successful prosecution of Hysaj are likely to affect several groups. For local residents and businesses near industrial estates, the removal of such operations reduces risks associated with illegal cultivation, including fire hazards from improvised electrical setups and the presence of organised crime networks, as noted by Gwent Police. For law enforcement, the case reinforces the operational value of police dogs in complex searches, which may encourage further investment in canine units for drug-related investigations across south Wales.
For those involved in local drug markets, the dismantling of a 313-plant operation and the jailing of a producer may temporarily disrupt supply chains and act as a deterrent, though police acknowledge that such farms are often linked to wider organised crime groups that can reorganise quickly. For the wider public, the reporting of clear outcomes arrests, seizures and sentences may increase confidence in reporting suspicious activity, knowing that forces can and do act on intelligence, as urged by Insp Paget.
