FOUR Albanian men were locked up after the smell of cannabis they were growing in the old Rialto Bingo Hall in College Street, Dumbarton, gave them away.
And in Dumbarton Sheriff Court this week they confessed to growing more than 1,100 cannabis plants in the old cinema which was turned into a bingo hall before it was closed.
Albanians Mirjan Dogjani, Fatjon Ndreu, Festim Sphaia and Artan Dogjani pleaded guilty to producing cannabis on November 28, 2023.
Around 8pm that day, police were given information there was a strong smell of cannabis coming from the old cinema, which has been lying empty for years.
In total, there were 1,156 plants in different stages of growth which could have yielded about £356,000 for the criminals.
Sheriff William Gallacher said: “I need to obtain background information because no-one other than the third accused [Sphaia] has a criminal history.
“Clearly this is an organised and significant matter, and a significant sentence is almost inevitable.”
Turning to the men, the sheriff said: “You have pleaded guilty to and were involved in a serious criminal act. The process of producing the drug and the amount involved shows a significant level of planning, perhaps not entirely by you, but where you played a significant role.
“The impact of that drug in this community is a serious and harmful one and the potential profits to those involved are huge.
“None of you should expect anything other than the necessary procedure before I impose a lengthy prison sentence.”
The four men will be sentenced next month.