Eight workers jailed for running cannabis farms in UK

Eight workers in Middlesbrough have been sentenced to a total of 32 years in prison for their involvement in a cannabis farming operation run by Albanian drug lords. This conclusion came after a four-year investigation that uncovered around 100 illegal cannabis farms. The group, posing as road workers from a company called Elev8, accidentally caused a fire while digging near electricity lines. Residents noticed they acted suspiciously and reported the situation. Elev8 had made itself look legitimate by posting job offers on LinkedIn, but the workers were actually there to help supply electricity to cannabis farms for their criminal bosses. On March 7, the court sentenced several men involved in this operation. Colin White, 62, received two and a half years. Andrew Roberts, 42, was given six years, while Graham Roberts, 47, was sentenced to five years. Company directors Ross McGinn, 33, and another Andrew from Wigan led this illicit operation. Judge David Potter remarked that the defendants were motivated by greed and highlighted how they used professional-looking vehicles and clothing to disguise their activities. They operated in plain sight while tapping into electricity worth millions of pounds, which helped produce cannabis valued at £21 million. Detective Chief Inspector Zoe Russo described the operation as sophisticated but dangerous. She emphasized that the group acted without permits and licenses, misleading the public about their intentions while engaging in illegal activities.