DRUGS raid police have smashed a major marijuana farm in the centre of Greenock and arrested an Albanian man, the Telegraph can reveal.

Officers who swooped on former office premises on Nicolson Street say they seized £163,000 worth of cannabis plants as a result of the intelligence-led operation.

Arrested man Bledjan Buci, 28, appeared from custody at the sheriff court in relation to the New Year's Day discovery.

Buci — who is understood to have no known address — is charged with producing cannabis, being concerned in the supply of the drug and tampering with an electricity meter.

Officers pounced on the Nicolson Street address after dark on January 1 following a tip-off.

A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed: "We were made aware of cannabis being grown at a property on Nicolson Street in Greenock around 6pm on Sunday, 1 January.

"The cannabis has been valued at approximately £163,000.

"A 28-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the recovery."

The spokesperson added: "Police activity is expected to continue at the premises in the coming days and the local community is thanked for their understanding."

Plain clothes officers were seen entering and exiting the cordoned-off property following the raid.

It came nearly a year after one of the biggest cannabis farms in Inverclyde was discovered within a former shop on nearby West Blackhall Street.

Police raided the former Poundstretcher store last January and uncovered hundreds of plants believed to worth around £1 million.

Other notable cannabis seizures in the recent past include another haul on West Blackhall Street in December 2021 which netted £40,000 worth of the drug.

That operation involved the use of the Police Scotland helicopter, which used onboard technology to detect 'an unusual heat source' in the area.

In May last year 40 cannabis plants were seized during a raid on a flat on Bearhope Street.

Accused Buci made no plea in relation to the Nicolson Street matter through lawyer Derek Buchanan during a private hearing on petition.

Sheriff Sheena Fraser continued the case for further examination and remanded Buci in custody.

The matters are due to call again in court later this week.