iStockTwo men have been jailed for a total of six years after a police raid at a £430,000 cannabis factory.
Goni Xhafa, 36, and Radion Lami, 21, were caught when officers swooped at the disused commercial premises in Hurlford, Ayrshire, last June 5.
The first offenders returned to the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, having earlier pled guilty to a charge of being involved in the production of cannabis.
Lord Matthews sentenced Xhafa to three years and four months, with Lami locked up for two years and eight months.
The court heard about the circumstances of the raid that occurred last year.
Prosecutor Colin Edward KC explained: “Police attended and forced entry – the premises had been converted into a large-scale cannabis cultivation.
“An area had been set up as living quarters. Both Xhafa and Lami were found there.
“They stated they were Albanian and spoke very little English.”
The pair – who got in and out of the building via a back door – were arrested.
Mr Edward then explained: “A search was carried out. There was a sophisticated growing area with plants, duct tape, sheeting and wiring.
“There was also use of other equipment such as fans and thermometers.”
A total of 717 plants were seized – most were described as being at “advanced stage” of growth.
Mr Edward stated the drugs had a potential value of £430,200.
Defence advocate Neil Beardmore said Xhafa stated he got involved to help pay expensive medical bills for a relative back in his homeland.
Lami’s lawyer Shaun Alexander said his mother was a professor and his father a retired engineer.
Mr Alexander added Lami had come to the UK on a small boat with the intention to “better his life”.
He had initially worked as a labourer before turning to crime. Lami was said to still have “ambitions” to become a pilot.
Sentencing, Lord Matthews told the pair: “I appreciate that your involvement – in terms of the indictment – was for a short time.
“However, operations like this rely on ‘gardeners’ and the court must do what it can to stop them.”
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