Deportation likely over £65k dope haul

A FAILED asylum seeker is set to be deported after a £65,000 drugs raid.

A total of 70 plants were found at a three-bedroom home. Police officers also recovered more than 11kgs of herbal cannabis.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court in January, Kongres Cuti, 32, from Albania, admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis on September 17 last year.

After negotiations with the Crown, the defence conceded the herbal material’s value was £37,000.

Both sides agreed the

BY RECORD REPORTER plants seized would be worth up to £28,000.

Prosecutor Jennifer McLaren said neighbours in Calderside Grove, East Kilbride, became suspicious about a smell coming from the house.

She told the court: “When police officers arrived, they noted an incredibly strong smell of cannabis. They found the entire house had been converted for the purpose of growing cannabis.

“There were 36 cannabis plants in the living room, 21 in an upstairs bedroom and 13 nursery plants in the loft space. Two bags of herbal cannabis, weighing 11.4kgs, were recovered.”

Cuti was detained when he arrived at the house that day. He was on his phone and “acting suspiciously”.

Officers also seized £750 in mixed notes from him.

Cuti was jailed for 18 months but the sentence was backdated to September 20 as he had been in custody since his arrest.

Given early release rules, the sentence has now been served but defence agent David Kinloch said his client faces deportation as a result of the conviction.