Eight criminals have been sentenced for their involvement in a large-scale operation that illegally diverted electricity to cannabis farms across the UK. The group posed as legitimate workers from Elev8 Civils and Utilities Limited, using company-branded vehicles to carry out what appeared to be routine utility repairs in broad daylight. Their activities spanned from November 2020 to February 2024 and involved significant infrastructure tampering, enabling extensive cannabis cultivation worth an estimated £21 million.

The sentencing took place at Liverpool Crown Court, where Judge David Potter outlined the criminal enterprise’s audacity and scale. The defendants, led by directors Ross McGinn, 33, from Huyton, and Andrew Roberts, 42, from Wigan, worked in conjunction with Albanian organised crime groups. Their operation was uncovered following a raid by North Wales Police on an abandoned commercial premises in Bangor High Street, where officers discovered around 1,000 cannabis plants and evidence of illegal electricity abstraction.

Detective Chief Inspector Zoe Russo from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit described the group’s enterprise as “highly sophisticated but dangerous.” Speaking about the investigation, she said that members of the public would have perceived the workers as legitimate, noting their absence of permits or licenses. Instead, their real motive was to illegally siphon electricity to supply these cannabis farms, many of which were located in repurposed buildings, including a former hotel, shops, a nightclub, and an empty department store.

The investigation, named Operation Spark, further revealed that the gang had illegally diverted electricity in at least 54 separate incidents. Expert analysis indicated that the total value of the electricity wrongfully extracted reached nearly £254,000, facilitating cannabis production that could yield a street value of £7 million. Given the number of operations, the total potential drug value across all incidents could rise to approximately £21 million.

Colin White, 62, an employee of Scottish Power, was implicated for providing the gang with necessary tools. Investigators discovered that White had stolen equipment essential for the illicit works. The court heard that the group would frequently use communications via WhatsApp to coordinate their activities, providing evidence that showed they were aware of the criminal nature of their undertakings.

Photographic evidence submitted during the case displayed unsafe electric work practices, leading to accidents within the group. A notably alarming image was found on Roberts’ phone, showing him with visible burns on his face resulting from electrical explosions encountered during their operations.

As sentencing was handed down, McGinn received five years and four months, while Roberts received a six-year sentence. Graham Roberts, who played a crucial role as a cable jointer, was sentenced to five years and three months. Other groundworkers, such as Greg Black, Lewin Charles, Aiden Doran, and Jack Sherry, received varying sentences as well.

The court proceedings underscored the extensive impact of the crime, with authorities noting the involvement of various police forces across England, Scotland, and Wales during the investigation. Judge Potter remarked on how the defendants expertly disguised their illegal actions, effectively operating “in plain sight” under the cover of legitimate-looking utility work.

Source: Noah Wire Services