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Albanian nationals Altin Laskaj, 30, and Kristjan Begu, 33, both pleaded guilty to producing and being concerned in the supply of the class B substance when they appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court from custody last week.
The Advertiser previously reported that police raided the empty premises in the town on January 15 this year.
When the pair returned to court on September 24, procurator fiscal depute Edwin Sheeran said: “They are both Albanian nationals, the locus is 33 Green Street, Ayr, a large industrial premises comprising two floors.
“On Monday, January 15, 2024 police witnesses attended the locus after intelligence was received. The disused furniture store appeared to have been closed for a long period of time.
“Police witnesses then attended the rear door of the locus and detected a strong smell of cannabis within.
“The decision was made to force entry to the locus as it was suspected there was a cannabis cultivation within and a fire risk to adjoining properties.
“On forcing entry police observed a large-scale cannabis cultivation spanning two floors including living quarters.”
Officers searched the premises and traced Laskaj and Begu as they ‘attempted to climb into a loft hatch upstairs’, according to the prosecutor.
Mr Sheeran said: “Both were secured and spoken to in the locus and indicated they were Albanian nationals.
“The accused were informed they were now under arrest.
“This was done through the aid of Google translate English to Albanian, the accused indicated they understood.
“Both were conveyed to Saltcoats police office and processed.”
After securing the building and a search warrant, officers seized 89 plants, valued at between £200 and £600 each, worth an estimated total of between £57,800 and £173,400.
Police found five ‘bags for life’ containing vacuum bags of herbal cannabis. In total there were 34 bags of herbal material that were sent for forensic analysis.
They each contained one kilo of the drug, totalling 34 kilos of cannabis bud – with each bag having a street value of £3,800, totalling £129,200 for the full haul.
A bag of clippings from cannabis plants, weighing 6.775kg, was also recovered, however, it had “no definitive monetary value”.
Police also found gardening gloves, pillow cases, scales, vacuum packs, a quantity of Reb Bull cans, empty plastic bottles, a black baseball cap and two toothbrushes.
The fiscal depute added: “Both accused were informed they were under arrest and held in custody.
“The cannabis cultivation was destroyed.”
Both appeared on petition and the case was continued for further examination on January 16, 2024 and the pair were remanded in custody. On January 24, they were fully committed and remanded in custody.
Sentencing was deferred for both men, who were represented by defence solicitors Ian Gillies and Robert Campbell respectively.
Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart said: “Gentlemen, I’m going to defer sentencing for criminal justice social work reports to be prepared, including restriction of liberty order assessments.
“You will remain in custody in the meantime.”
They will return to court for sentencing at a later date.
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