A cannabis farm worth up to £180,000 was found in a disused nightclub named Big Joint.
Police officers made the discovery at the premises in Glasgow’s Scotstoun on April 18, 2023.
They found a total of 741 plants just under half of which were cannabis branches.
Gentjan Drobaj, 37, was discovered in the ground floor of the two-level growing areas and was arrested.
He pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to producing herbal cannabis.
The court heard that police attended the former Big Joint nightclub in relation to an anonymous report.
The doors were locked and a strong smell of cannabis as well as the noise of a fan were noted.
Officers looked through the brickwork at the back of the premises to find cannabis plants and equipment associated with a cultivation.
The landlord was contacted who informed officers that he had let the premises out to an unknown eastern European man.
A search warrant was obtained and officers raided the premises.
Prosecutor Katie Bell said: “Officers completed a cursory search and found the Drobaj within the ground floor.
“A continued cursory search identified two growing areas within the ground floor living area and three growing areas on the first floor.”
Drobaj was taken into custody.
There were a total of 741 cannabis plants – 348 of which were cuttings while the 393 remaining were “healthy and well maintained.”
The fiscal depute stated that the value of the cannabis ranged between £78,600 and £180,000.
Sentencing was deferred pending background reports until next month by Sheriff Matthew Jackson KC who continued Drobaj’s remand in custody meantime.
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