Albanian brothers jailed over £3m cannabis factory in West Lothian

Two brothers from Albania have been jailed for running a £3m cannabis factory in West Lothian.

Armend and Eli Abrahimi - aged 28 and 30 - were arrested following reports of a smell coming from an industrial unit in West Calder in September 2024.

Police discovered 733 plants inside. A later search of a property owned by Eli Abrahimi found a further 160 cannabis plants.

The pair pleaded guilty the High Court in Glasgow and were remanded in custody for sentencing in June.

The court heard that officers found the windows at the West Lothian industrial unit had been blacked out and the electrics had been tampered with.

Inside was a sophisticated set-up of lights, air filters and fans to help grow cannabis.

Others areas inside included living quarters and storage space for equipment.

Prosecutor Ali Murray said: "This cultivation appeared to have been conducted by skilled growers with prior experience."

Officers seized cash, a mobile phone and paperwork linking the brothers to the unit. DNA was also discovered on a thermometer.

The siblings were arrested in January 2025 at their homes in Falkirk. The court heard the pair were originally from Albania.

Armend's Abrahimi Home Office status at the time of his arrest was "liable to be removed" from the UK.

Eli Abrahimi's status was the same with the added note he was an "immigration offender" and "failed asylum seeker".

He had previously been found guilty of intent to supply cocaine.