Albanian Trio Sentenced for Massive Cannabis Operation in Scotland

Three Albanian men have been sentenced for operating a large-scale cannabis farm in a disused shopping centre in Scotland. The men, identified as Elton Skenderi, Gjovalin Toma, and Eduard Daja, were apprehended while attempting to distribute the class B drug in central Scotland. Their operation, located in the former Irvine Forum shopping centre in North Ayrshire, was discovered during a police raid in September 2024, which uncovered an astonishing 3,058 cannabis plants valued between £600,000 and £1.8 million.

At the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, Judge Lord Mulholland remarked, “I don’t think I have ever seen so many cannabis plants in one place.” All three men pleaded guilty to charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act on August 6, 2024. Daja also admitted to violating a deportation order imposed in July 2023 due to a prior conviction for cannabis production at Leeds Crown Court.

Judge Critiques Scale of Operation

During the sentencing, Lord Mulholland described the trio’s activities as “criminality on an industrial scale.” He addressed the men through Albanian interpreters, stating, “This was not a small-scale operation. You were running a cannabis factory to flood central Scotland with cannabis.” His remarks highlighted the severity of their actions, emphasizing the extensive nature of the operation.

In an unusual twist, the judge dismissed claims that the men were victims of human trafficking or modern slavery. “You are not in any way victims of human trafficking or human slavery,” he asserted. “You are all cannabis farmers, pure and simple.” Earlier in the proceedings, Skenderi’s lawyer, Laura Ann Radcliffe, suggested her client had been coerced into the operation due to debts incurred from a group of men he met in Germany. However, the judge pointed out the lack of evidence supporting claims of trafficking, which Radcliffe ultimately acknowledged.

Sentences Imposed for Drug Offenses

The sentences for the men reflect the seriousness of their offenses. Skenderi received a prison term of five years and three months, while Toma was sentenced to six years. Daja was given six years for his involvement in cannabis cultivation, along with an additional nine months for breaching the deportation order, to be served consecutively.

As the sentences were announced, the three men, dressed in identical grey fleeces, displayed no visible emotion. This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combating large-scale drug operations and highlights the severe consequences of engaging in such criminal activities. The decision by the court serves as a reminder of the legal ramifications associated with drug production and distribution in the United Kingdom.