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Albanian community leaders have condemned the actions of criminal gangs who are running amok in Scotland with massive cannabis farms.
A strong backlash came after the Daily Record revealed that Albanian organised crime groups are flooding Scottish communities with the “skunk” cultivations.
Our report was the centrepiece of a television news special in the Balkan nation’s top news outlet Top Channel.
It reflected our findings that tens of millions of pounds worth of super strong skunk is being produced at cannabis farms in rented homes and disused business properties, all involving the theft of an industrial amount of electricity to boost the harvest.
Former MSP and senior cop Graeme Pearson highlighted how the growth in the Albanian crime gangs is on a scale that already threatens the stability of communities.
Pearson, former Labour justice spokesman and Director General of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, has called for talks between energy companies, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government to set up early warning systems for power surges.
He claims these should be able to reveal drug gang activity and enable police to break up the networks.
Albanian TV reporting on Daily Record Albanian drug gangs in Scotland
After our story was published at the weekend, the Top Channel station in Albania picked it up and carried their own report.
Top Channel journalist and campaigner Muhamed Veliu said: “The story was picked up and featured prominently because many Albanian people would have been very concerned to see the growth of such crime in Scotland.
“We have been aware of these gangs expanding into places like Greece and Spain and England and now it seems Scotland it part of the picture”
Veliu said the gangland explosion is a source of shame for most decent Albanians.
He said: “Most people in Albania will be very disappointed to see the spread of crime by Albanian nationals because this is something that reflects badly on the whole country.
“There are many people who have successful careers in medicine and law and who run very good businesses. It is a shame that we hear so much about the criminal activities that go on.”
A spokesperson for the Albanian Scotland website said many young men are exploited by criminal gangs – who are seen as hero figures due to slick videos posted on Tik-Tok.
The spokesperson said: “The reality is that the young men see the criminals with the fancy cars and they don’t want what is on offer in Albania. They don’t want to work on the fields.
“They end up getting involved in the drug gangs and they are often the ones who will end up in places like Scotland, possibly in jail.
“I think it is important to state that there are many good Albanian people in Scotland, including those who have children who are born here, all of whom are contributing to society in a very positive way.”
Albanians Indrit Saraci, Adiol Hila, Ilir Kasa and Arber Ketuka – all have been jailed over recent cannabis farm plots in Scotland
Our story on Saturday told how Scottish courts have been dealing with a growing number of cases involving Albanians caught at cannabis farms.
These are usually low level operators, who set up homes in dingy buildings and flats while the crops grow.
Cases at court usually see Albanian “gardeners” claiming to have been trafficked to Scotland.
Among those busted in Scotland is Ilir Kasa, 52, who was jailed at Stirling High Court last February for eight years.
Indrit Saraci, 27, was sentenced to three years and nine months and Adiol Hila, 37, was jailed for three years and four months when they appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court last October.
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“}]] Biggest Albanian TV channel reports on the Daily Record’s coverage of crime gangs, who have massively stepped up cannabis production in Scotland after establishing networks in England and Wales Read More
