Dundee flats had cannabis valued at £260k

Police discovered a cannabis farm worth £266,000 after raiding two flats in Dundee’s West End.

Charalampos Balilai, 20, is facing jail after he admitted producing the Class-b drug from the flats in the same block on Perth Road.

Officers smashed their way into the properties following a tip-off last November and found 266 plants with an estimated value of £1,000 each.

First offender Balilai pled guilty at Dundee Sheriff Court to growing the drugs.

Fiscal depute Lynne Mannion explained how the electrical supply and ventilation system had been altered in the flats.

Officers also discovered heat lamps attached to the ceiling.

“Within flat one, there was a significant cannabis cultivation but no persons were within the flat,” Mrs Mannion said.

“Within flat two, an identical cultivation was found and the accused and another male were traced within the living room, which had been set up as the sleeping area.

“It was also noted that the ventilation system appeared to join between the addresses.”

Officers recovered 266 plants in total from both flats, aged anywhere between two and 10 weeks.

Balilai, who is Greek and on remand at HMYOI Polmont, denied all involvement following his arrest but later said he was “helping others within the flats”.

He told officers: “I started to do this job but because I am a young child and I was brought up in a good culture, I just got involved. I was going to go home.”

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael deferred sentence to obtain social work reports. He was remanded in custody.