24-year-old Drenit Matmuja and 20-year-old Jonis Krasniqi were found at neighbouring properties on Cyfyng Road, Ystalyfera after a police raid on 21 February.
The basements in both properties were being used to grow a significant number of cannabis plants.
Police discovered 83 cannabis plants in the growing stage and another 22 in the nursery stage at one property and a further 66 cannabis plants at the adjoining property accessed through a hole in the basement wall.
Both grow rooms were kitted out with fans, timers, and lights, and had plastic sheets lining the walls and floor.
At the time of his arrest, Krasniqi had been in the country for five years and his asylum application had been rejected.
Swansea Crown Court heard that immigration services “were not aware” Matmuja was in the country until his arrest.
Matmuja was jailed for 10 months and Krasniqi was sentenced to 10 months in a Young Offender Institution.
Following their earlier guilty pleas, Judge Huw Rees said the pair would serve half of their sentences in custody, before being detained by the Home Office and deported.
Sergeant Matthew Jones from South Wales Police said: “It is clear that these two men were conducting their drugs operation in what they thought was a quiet road where they would not arouse suspicion.
“However, they were wrong to think that their illegal activities would not be discovered.
“We hope that both of them spend their time in prison considering their actions and change their ways upon release.”
(Lead image: South Wales Police)
