Migrant to be deported over £600,000 cannabis farm

An Albanian illegal immigrant smuggled into the UK in the back of a lorry is to be deported after being caught tending a cannabis farm.

Hekuran Binaj, 25, was found by police in a property in Broxburn, Scotland, where the upstairs bedrooms were filled with dozens of mature cannabis plants with a maximum value of £600,000.

Binaj was located after police swooped on a house in West Lothian after examining a mobile phone thrown away by the suspected drug dealer in Lanarkshire woodland, a court heard.

Forensic examiners found documents in the phone showing that Binaj - an Albanian national who said he had arrived illegally in the UK in the back of a lorry after paying smugglers- had access to the property at 38 Craigseaton, Broxburn.

Officers who arrived at the terraced house found all the window blinds were closed.

They detected a strong smell of cannabis coming from inside and the sound of fans running, Livingston Sheriff Court was told.

Two officers went to the rear of the property and spotted Binaj peering out of the back window.

The constables told him to open the front door and he did, but sprinted past them in an unsuccessful bid to avoid arrest.

A search of the property uncovered the cannabis farm in three upstairs bedrooms.

The court was told that Binaj was remorseful and was keen to return to Albania where his mother was unwell.

Sheriff Martin Edington granted the accused's wish. In addition to sentencing Binaj to 20 months in prison backdated to 13 July last year, he made an order under the Immigration Act to have him deported from prison to his homeland.