Albanian admits producing controlled drug after police raid unearthed £900,000 cannabis farm

A 47-year-old man has appeared in court in connection with a cannabis farm in Eyemouth estimated to be worth £900,000.

Adriatik Abazi was arrested after police found the illegal cultivation in a unit on an industrial estate in the town’s Coldingham Road.

Appearing from custody today (Tuesday), the Albanian admitted – through the aid of an interpreter – producing a controlled drug in the Marnic Seafoods building between November the 18th and 28th last year.

Sentence has been deferred for background reports until May the 26th, when the case will recall at Selkirk Sheriff Court; and Abazi has been remanded in custody meantime.

It’s the latest in a series of illegal cultivations dismantled in the Scottish Borders in recent times.

In February, Greatest Hits Radio revealed police have seized £9.5 million pounds worth of cannabis in the region 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.”

Parcel intercepted

A 41-year-old woman caught growing cannabis at her home in Kelso has been fined £500.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard a package addressed to Jennifer Riding – believed to contain drugs – was intercepted by Royal Mail in August.

And police found five plants and other paraphernalia associated with growing cannabis when they raided her home in October.

Riding’s solicitor, Ed Hulme, told the court his client suffered from physical and mental health issues which caused her some pain and discomfort, and found cannabis therapeutic.

He said the drug also helped her sleep at night, and decided to grow her own to avoid having contact with dealers.

As well as producing a controlled drug, Riding also pled guilty to possession of the Class B drug.

In addition to the fine, she was ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

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