FOUR men have been jailed for a total of almost 12 years after police raided a £900,000 cannabis factory in Stevenston.

Officers swooped on the unit at the Stevenston Industrial Estate on April 4, 2023.

The premises had been converted into a sophisticated drug farm housing more than 3,000 cannabis plants.

Besmir Broshka, 36, was found trying to escape after police arrived.

Armend Krasniqi, 31, Drilon Gapi, 36, and Erando Jaupi, 33, were snared as they returned to the unit with bags of shopping while officers were still there.

The four Albanians returned to the High Court in Glasgow for sentencing on February 29.

Krasniqi - who had a more central role in the crime - had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

He was jailed for five years and three months by Judge Douglas Brown.

Gapi was locked up for two years and three months, with Broshka and Jaupi each sentenced to two years and two months.

The trio had admitted taking part in the production of the drug.

Judge Brown stated: "When police searched the premises, they discovered cannabis being cultivated on a substantial and commercial scale."

He added Krasniqi had been involved "from the start of the operation".

Prosecutor Scott McKenzie earlier told how the unit was situated in an area where "activity would largely go un-noticed".

But police turned up to raid the premises and forced entry.

Officers discovered the unit had been split into different rooms, with equipment rigged up to grow cannabis.

A total of 1,488 "mature" plants were seized, along with 1,775 seedlings.

Broshka, who lived at the site, initially tried to escape via a fire door.

Mr McKenzie: "The other three began to enter carrying large 'bags for life' full of shopping.

"The officers identified themselves. All three made efforts to flee."

DNA for the trio involved in the production of the drug were discovered on drinks cans found lying at the unit.

Krasniqi, meantime, was said to more involved in organising the rental of the unit, work to be carried out at the factory and the maintenance of the cultivation.

There were also photos and videos of the cannabis found on a phone belonging to him.

Mr McKenzie said the plants had a maximum potential value of around £901,000.

Three of the gang were described as "illegal entrants" into the UK.

Jaupi, the court heard, had claimed asylum, but it did not go any further due to a "lack of engagement" with the authorities.