£730K CANNABIS FACTORY RAID: ALBANIAN ASKS POLICE “WAS IT A SNITCH?”

TWO Albanians were caught in a cannabis factory in a Fife industrial estate with drugs worth over £700,000.

Altan Zvrina, 45 and Shefqet Zotaj, 25, appeared from custody at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court with a translator.

They both admitted that on 6th March at Crompton Road, Southfield Industrial Estate, Glenrothes, they were concerned in the supply of a controlled drug, cannabis.

When police raided the premises the pair were found hiding in ceiling space with one asking if a “snitch” had informed on them.

Depute fiscal Sarah Smith said police received intelligence and sought a search warrant which was executed at 9am.

Entry was forced to a unit and inside they found an office which had been converted into a living area with bedding, a fridge and food.

Two of the beds had been slept in recently and there were personal items lying around as well as a passport.

The pair were found hiding on top of a ceiling in the back of the property.

Zotaj (PICTURED being led from court) said, “I have been in the country for about six months. I tried to get a job in construction but it is difficult and not a lot of jobs. This is my first time doing this.”

Zvrina asked police how they had found out about them and said, “Was it a snitch?”

There were three growing areas over two floors of the building containing a total of 521 cannabis plants with an approximate weight of 64 kg.

The street value would range from £457,600 if sold as ounce deals to £732,300 if sub-divided further.

Sheriff Steven Borthwick called for reports and the two men will remain in custody until sentencing on 28th July.