Listen to this article:Four men have admitted to cultivating more than 1,100 cannabis plants inside a former bingo hall. The group was discovered living in the old Carlton Bingo Hall in Dumbarton, just a short distance from the court, where they later confessed to the crime.
The men, identified as Mirjan Dogjani, Fatjon Ndreu, Festim Sphaia, and Artan Dogjani, all of whom are currently held at Low Moss Prison, pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis on November 28, 2023.
On that evening, around 8 pm, police were alerted to a strong odour of cannabis coming from the building on College Street. Upon investigation, they uncovered a large-scale cannabis cultivation operation, along with the four men attempting to flee through a fire exit. The suspects were apprehended and later identified as the same individuals who appeared in court.
With the decline of traditional bingo halls in the aftermath of the COVID crisis, many of these spaces have been left vacant, paving the way for alternative uses, even as online bingo sites have surged in popularity.
Authorities found a total of 1,156 cannabis plants at various stages of growth within the premises. If fully matured, the plants would have had a street value of approximately £356,000. In addition to the plants, the police also discovered the necessary cultivation equipment and living quarters for the men.
During the court proceedings on August 6, with the help of an Albanian translator, all four men entered guilty pleas at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.
Sheriff William Gallacher said that he needs to obtain background information about the men as no one other than Sphaia has a criminal record. However, as it is clearly a highly organised operation, he warned that a significant sentence is “almost inevitable”.
In court, the sheriff addressed the men directly, saying:
“You have pleaded guilty to and were involved in a serious criminal act. The process of producing the drug and the amount involved shows a significant level of planning, perhaps not entirely by you, but where you played a significant role. The impact of that drug in this community is a serious and harmful one and the potential profits to those involved are huge. None of you should expect anything other than the necessary procedure before I impose a lengthy prison sentence.”
The sentencing for all four men is scheduled for next month.
The case comes after the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) warned that criminal gangs in the UK are using empty buildings like the abounded bingo hall to grow cannabis on an industrial scale.
There have been reports of cannabis farms being set up in unlikely venues such as vacant pubs, office buildings, cafes, nightclubs and bingo halls across the country. In an interview with the BBC, Chief Constable Richard Lewis, the NPCC national lead on drugs, explained how abandoned commercial properties are attracting criminals.
“Large-scale shops have closed down and therefore the footprint to produce cannabis on a larger scale becomes available.”
One of the largest operations was found in Newport, South Wales, where criminals had turned several floors in an abandoned department store into a farm with more than 3,000 plants. According to Gwent Police, they seized rugs with a value of £2 million when they raided the property.
Over the last year, police have been stepping up raids on suspected cannabis growers across the UK and close to 1,000 people have been arrested. Furthermore, the NPCC warned that they are not just targeting gangs but also landlords and tradespeople who have helped to create the farms. Lewis explained:
“We’ve also prosecuted landlords of these places who at best may be turning a blind eye to what’s happening. We’ve seen prosecutions of estate agents, electricians and people who have facilitated this trade. Of course, most of our tradespeople in the UK do a great job but there is a small minority who do undertake these types of activities – and we do prosecute them.”
With the resurgence in the popularity of land bingo in recent years, it is hoped that fewer bingo halls will be available to be exploited in this way and will instead be returned to their original use.
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