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A police operation in England has uncovered a major cannabis cultivation ring linked to Albanian gangs. During the investigation, a cannabis farm worth over £1 million was raided, while authorities uncovered a sophisticated scheme to steal electricity to power over 100 cannabis farms across the country.
The gang of ten people reportedly disguised themselves as legitimate workers to hack into the national electricity grid.
They worked for a registered company, Elev8 Civils and Utilities Ltd, and had carried out at least 54 excavations in the UK. The gang, led by Ross McGinn and Andrew Roberts, carried out their first project at The Dell, West Derby.
The Daily Mail writes that the criminal group, using clothing and equipment identical to those of public service workers, closed roads and carried out excavations in broad daylight, making it appear as if they were carrying out regular work.
The stolen energy was diverted to cannabis farms, helping to produce and trade drugs worth a total of over £21 million. As well as being criminal, their operations, which spanned 32 different police force areas across the UK, were also highly dangerous.
Also on a mobile phone belonging to Elev8 Civils and Utilities director Andrew Roberts, 42, police found a shocking image of his face blackened, apparently caused by one of the cables they cut.
Eight people were also arrested in the operation. It is understood the premises turned into illegal drug factories included a former hotel, shops, a nightclub, a café and an empty shop. The group was led by Roberts, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, and company colleague Ross McGinn, 33, from Huyton, Merseyside.
British authorities seized cannabis plants worth up to £21 million. Most of the farms were also 'occupied' by Albanian nationals, who acted as gardeners.
As British media reports, McGinn was sentenced to five years and four months. While Roberts was sentenced to six years. Groundworkers Greg Black, 29, from Huyton; Lewin Charles, 22, from Roby, Merseyside, Aiden Doran, 28, from Wigan and Jack Sherry, 20, from Wigan, all pleaded guilty to encouraging and aiding and abetting a criminal offence and conspiracy to commit electricity.
Black was jailed for three years and nine months, Charles for two years and eight months and Doran was sentenced to three years. Sherry was sentenced to 22 months, suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. White, who stole the equipment, was jailed for two and a half years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal and encouraging or assisting in the extraction of electricity.
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