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A missing-person investigation led police to cannabis worth almost three-quarters-of-a-million pounds and a cache of illegal weapons.

Unsuspecting officers attended the address on Grange Terrace, Chapeltown, on July 25, but Pieter Ndreca climbed out of the kitchen window and tried to run off, Leeds Crown Court heard.

They searched the property and found 73 kg of dried cannabis in vacuum-packed bags, another 1kg loose around the property nearly £4,000 in £20 notes on a bedside table. They also found three baseball bats and a four illegal “zombie” machetes. There were also several beds in each bedroom.

Ndreca (pictured) trie to flee the property in Chapeltown where 74kgs of cannabis was found. (pics by WYP / National World) | WYP / National World

Experts said the cannabis had a wholesale value of up to £400,000, and a street value up to £740,000.

Two Albanians were arrested from the property, including 30-year-old Ndreca. He had initially come to an upstairs window when the police knocked, and then tried to run after escaping through the kitchen window. He was apprehended after a short foot chase.

He eventually admitted possession with an intent to supply cannabis, after giving a “wholly implausible” account to police about how he came to be in the property.

Mitigating on his behalf, Soheil Khan said Ndreca was like many Albanians, that he had come to the UK to find work to help pay medical bills for his family back home, and had found himself in debt with the traffickers who smuggled him into the country.

He said he owed £18,000, was hoping to get a job in construction, but was taken to the house in Chapeltown. He has no previous convictions.

He appeared in court via video link from HMP Lincoln alongside his co-accused, who has admitted the same offence.

Judge Richard Mansell KC told them: “You had both been recruited to sleep in the property. You would no doubt oversee the movement of those kilogramme packages as and when you were required to do so.”

He jailed Ndreca for 18 months. His co-accused is to be sentenced at a later date due to an issue over his basis of plea.

Missing-person probe uncovers three-quarters-of-a-million pounds of drugs at Leeds terraced home