A MAN who was caught growing cannabis with a potential street value of up to £3.6 million at a derelict building in Greenock has been jailed.
Antonjo Selami was part of a team of gardeners tending more than 6,000 plants at the building in West Stewart Street.
At the time of the raid, the haul was described as one of the largest cannabis farms ever discovered by police in Scotland.
A court hearing on Wednesday was told that Selami has agreed to be deported at the end of his prison sentence.
A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh told 48-year-old Selami: "The operation was on a very large scale capable of producing industrial quantities of cannabis for commercial dealing."
Lord Doherty said: "It was well organised and sophisticated, using high value equipment and very large premises which were secured in order to defeat entry."
Two other men, Albanians Glendian Daci (26) and Aurel Xhoka (33), were each handed 45-month jail terms in December for their roles in the illegal cultivation.
And Selami has now been handed the same sentence as Daci and Xhoka.
“However, you had awareness and understanding of the scale of the operation because its scale and purpose must have been obvious to you."
Lord Doherty said it was a serious offence and Selami's involvement was significant because of the period he took part in the production and the size of the undertaking.
The judge told Selami, who followed proceedings with the aid of an Albanian interpreter, that he would have faced a five year jail term but for his guilty plea.
Selami, a prisoner at Low Moss jail at Bishopbriggs, earlier admitted producing the controlled Class B drug at the building between December 1, 2023 and January 21 last year.
The court heard that entrances to the building where the cannabis was being grown were secured with steel doors - and when police entered through one of the doors they came across a further area which was also shielded behind steel doors.
When entry was forced to the interior part of the building they found the cannabis cultivation, which was the largest seen by specialist Stop drugs officers.
A mass of equipment to aid the drug farm was seized, including lights, transformers, fans, water tanks, fertiliser and timers.
A living area with three beds and cooking and washing facilities was also discovered.
As police entered the building, three men were seen on CCTV cameras trying to escape but were intercepted and arrested.
Mr Moir said his client was assessed as posing a low risk of reoffending, while the author of a background report prepared on him said he has demonstrated high levels of remorse for his actions.
The defence counsel said Selami had signed documentation agreeing to his deportation at the end of his jail sentence.
At the sentencing of Daci and Xhoka in December, judge Lady Drummond said she accepted that the operation was "already ongoing" before they became involved.
Following Selami's sentencing, Detective Inspector Gordon Smith said: “Uncovering a cultivation of this scale has a significant impact on the supply of cannabis onto Scotland’s streets.
“I hope that this sentencing sends a clear message to anyone involved in the production and supply of illegal drugs that we will use all resources at our disposal to track you down and ensure you face the consequences.
“Police Scotland remains committed to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, and our officers are determined to protect members of the public from this type of criminality
“The support we receive from the public is vital and we urge anyone with information or concerns regarding drugs in their community to contact police through 101.
"Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”
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