Last updated 8 hours ago
Greatest Hits Radio can today reveal police have seized £9.5 million pounds worth of cannabis in the Scottish Borders in just 16 months.
22 people have been arrested in connection with 12 separate cultivations, between July 2023 and November last year, and more than half of them – 14 – were Albanian.
Detective Chief Inspector Bob Campbell says it’s not a harmless drug.
“A number of people commit crime – steal, extort – to fund their habits,” he explained. “It has a detrimental effect on society; it has a strain on our resources, and our colleagues in the NHS down the line.
“The state of disrepair that’s been left behind for those poor landlords to deal with has been astronomical – tens of thousands of pounds in some instances to put them right.
“The people responsible are bypassing electricity, it’s extremely dangerous for everyone involved.”
The figures have been released after five man – all Albanians – were jailed for more than nine years in connection with cannabis farms, estimated to be worth more than £2.3 million, which were unearthed at the former Woolworths and Ladbrokes stores in the centre of Galashiels in March last year.
It’s the biggest seizure of drugs ever made in the Scottish Borders in a single day.
Three more Albanian nationals appeared at Jedburgh Sheriff Court today (Monday) in connection with two further cultivations.
Erson Shurdha, 38, was jailed for two years after being found sleeping with 237 cannabis plants, estimated to be worth up to £199,000, at the former Why Not? store in Channel Street, Galashiels, in May last year.
It was the third cultivation to be unearthed in an empty retail unit in the same street in as many months.
Meanwhile, Bardhok Cara and Kristjan Prendi – both aged 22 – were each jailed for 20 months after being caught with 400 plants worth up to £336,000 at a former carpet warehouse in Havelock Street, Hawick, in June.
They previously admitted to being concerned in the production of a controlled drug, by growing and maintaining it.
Passing sentence, Sheriff Peter Anderson warned the pair: “You were involved in serious criminal activity that, from the information I have, your employers were going to make huge profits from.”
And he added: “A prison sentence is inevitable – and right and proper – for cases of this kind.”
Police are welcoming the sentences. They say there is no hiding place for criminals and the latest seizures demonstrate their commitment to taking drugs off the street.
Detective Chief Inspector Bob Campbell (pictured above) said: “We know the misery that drug misuse can cause and will use every tool and tactic at our disposal to protect the local communities we serve from the dangers of the illegal drug trade.
“Our officers work every day to protect the public by disrupting the cultivation and sale of illegal drugs and preventing them being circulated on our streets. This is vitally important in addressing the concerns of local people.
“Working closely with our partners and business owners, we remain focused on targeting individuals and organised crime groups.”
But he added: “Action like this is only possible with the continued support of our communities. Information from the public, such as unusual activity around premises that are supposed to be vacant and reporting distinctive pungent smells, is absolutely crucial to our work and we ask anyone with information or concerns to contact Police Scotland on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained. “
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