An illegal immigrant is facing a jail term after police found nearly 400 plants and seedlings at a cannabis factory set up in an east Ipswich house.

The Class B drug was found during a raid in Powling Road, located between Clapgate Lane and Nacton Road.

Albanian Shefget Marku was arrested after police executed a search warrant at around 10am on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old is understood to have been living in the kitchen where his bed and a television were discovered.

The remainder of the house was said to have been used for growing the cannabis. A total of 180 plants were discovered during the search and a further 216 seedlings were also found.

Officers remained at the property for around six and a half hours clearing the premises of the Class B drug, taking photographs and carrying out their enquiries.

In addition to the drugs, hydroponic and other cultivation equipment was also seized.

Marku, whose address was given as Powling Road, was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre where he made full admissions of guilt during his interview.

He was charged with production of cannabis and remanded into custody overnight.

Marku appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich yesterday where he admitted the offence via a video-link from Martlesham.

Marku has a wife and two children in Albania. He left his homeland to go to Germany from where he is understood to have been sent to England illegally and then set up as the ‘gardener’ looking after the cannabis plants.

Marku is believed to have left Albania so he could earn money to send back to his family for a better life.

Magistrates sent the case to Ipswich Crown Court as they decided their sentencing powers were insufficient for Marku’s offence.

Marku was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the crown court on a date to be fixed.