FOUR men have confessed to growing more than 1,100 cannabis plants in a former bingo hall.

The men appeared from custody months after they were found living in the Carlton Bingo Hall in Dumbarton just yards from the court where they later pleaded guilty.

Mirjan Dogjani, Fatjon Ndreu, Festim Sphaia and Artan Dogjani, all listed as prisoners in Low Moss, each pleaded guilty to producing cannabis on November 28, 2023.

Around 8pm that day, police were given information there was a strong smell of cannabis coming from the former bingo hall, in College Street.

(Image: Newsquest) Officers attended and immediately forced their way into one of the rear doors.

They spotted a large-scale cultivation - and four men trying to escape through a fire door.

All four were stopped and identified as the men now in the court dock.

In total, there were 1,156 plants in different stages of growth. If mature, they could yield about £356,000 for the criminals.

Police also found equipment necessary for growing the plants and living quarters for the men.

With the aid of an Albanian translator, the men pleaded guilty on August 6 at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

Sheriff William Gallacher said: "I need to obtain background information because no-one other than the third accused [Sphaia] has a criminal history.

"Clearly this is an organised and significant matter, and a significant sentence is almost inevitable."

Turning to the men, the sheriff said: "You have pleaded guilty to and were involved in a serious criminal act. The process of producing the drug and the amount involved shows a significant level of planning, perhaps not entirely by you, but where you played a significant role.

"The impact of that drug in this community is a serious and harmful one and the potential profits to those involved are huge.

"None of you should expect anything other than the necessary procedure before I impose a lengthy prison sentence."

The four men will be sentenced next month.