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Scottish Sun
28-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Inside £6m Scots weed factory run by illegal immigrant in former WH Smith store
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAN who paid £20,000 to come illegally to Britain became a key player in a £6 million cannabis factory located on a busy Scots high street, a court heard. Petrit Gjuraj, 24, was arrested after police nabbed him at a former branch of WH Smith on High Street, Kirkcaldy, in 2022. 4 A weed farm was set up in a former WH Smith store Credit: YouTube/Shepherd Chartered Surveyors 4 Police Scotland found a total of 1,330 cannabis plants Credit: Getty (stock image) 4 The criminals set up CCTV in the former stationery store Credit: YouTube/Shepherd Chartered Surveyors The High Court in Edinburgh heard how officers who searched the three-storey building found a total of 1,330 cannabis plants, which were being grown on every floor. Workers slept in a small area which consisted of three double mattresses. The court also heard detectives also found a large TV which showed live CCTV footage from a camera located at the back of the premises which focused on the back door. Drugs squad officers found the cannabis being grown there could have netted the organised crime group responsible for the plant a total of £6,596,800. On Wednesday, judge Lord Scott heard about the moment police arrested Gjuraj, an Albanian national. Prosecutor Alan Cameron KC said: 'Police Scotland received intelligence that cannabis was being cultivated within the three storey, disused premises at 183-187 High Street, Kirkcaldy. 'Police cars arrived at the front and rear of the premises to search them. Police cars arrived at the front and rear of the premises. 'The accused and three other males were seen from the police helicopter exiting onto the roof of the building via a fire escape and running west along the roof of he adjacent building via a fire escape and running west along the roof the adjacent building. 'It became apparent to officers that the males had no means of escape. After the males made a few attempts to conceal themselves, they were observed to be engaging with the officers and a ladder was requested. 'The males descended the ladder in turn nd were detained by the officers on the street.' Brit teen facing life in prison after being 'caught with 14kg of cannabis' in her luggage after huge airport arrest The story emerged after Gjuraj, of Paisley, Renfrewshire, pleaded guilty to being concerned in cultivating cannabis at the premises between March and May 2022. According to Google Maps, the premises raided by police used to be occupied by a branch of WH Smith. A branch of clothing giants New Look was once located close by as was a branch of Waterstones. Mr Cameron told the court that the accused told police that he had paid a person in Albania £20,000 to come to the UK. 4 An illegal immigrant ran a cannabis farm inside a WH Smith in Kirkcaldy Credit: Google Mr Cameron added: 'The arrangement was that should he not carry out the work then his family in Albania would have to sell their property to repay the debt. 'He made his own way to Belgium and then hid in a lorry and by hiding in the lorry was able to enter the UK. 'He worked in London before moving to Scotland where he worked for two months in the building where he was subsequently found by the police. 'He is an Albanian national who has no legal entitlement to be in the UK. "The usual national referral mechanism checks were made with the Home Office and it was determined he had not ben trafficked.' The court heard that the premises raided by the police were set up for 'maximum cannabis cultivation' - officers reckon the OCG spent £70,000 on cultivation. Detectives recovered 392 cannabis plants from the ground floor, 740 plants from the first floor and 146 plants from the top floor. Mr Cameron added: 'If the cannabis cultivated was sold in one eighth deals that would amount to approximately 164,920 deals at £40 per deal. This would have yielded approximately £6,596,800. 'STOP officers offer the opinion the accused was trusted by an organised crime group which had invested in the production of the cannabis and would have yielded significant sums from its onward sales.' Lord Scott remanded Gjuraj, in custody ahead of a sentencing hearing next month. Lord Scott told the accused he needed to obtain report on his background before he could proceed to sentence. He said: 'You have pleaded guilty to a very serious charge. A prison sentence is inevitable here. 'This was clearly a very significant drugs operation carried out on behalf of an organised crime group. 'The agreed narrative tells me that you must have been a person trusted by the serious organised crime group.' Gjuraj will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on June 19 2025.
The Herald Scotland
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Last remaining shop of tailor for sale after over 145 years
Now Shepherd Chartered Surveyors is bringing to market the last remaining retail unit of historic Dundee tailor Cooper & McKenzie for sale. The firm said the unit is prominently located on the west side of Crichton Street between its junctions with High Street and Whitehall Crescent within Dundee city centre. Grant Mitchell, formerly of Cooper & McKenzie, said: 'We purchased this unit in the early 70s and opened Erik Larson which facilitated our introduction of interesting Scandinavian styled menswear into Tayside. This operation ran until the opening of our extended and remodelled store in Reform Street in 1994.' READ MORE: The agent said: 'The 1,144 square feet office/retail unit is planned over ground and basement floors forming part of a mid-terraced Category C listed four storey, attic and basement building with staff kitchen, WC and storage. Surrounding occupiers are a mix of businesses with residential occupiers on the upper floors.' Scott Robertson, at Shepherd in Dundee, said: 'The unit was part of the Cooper & McKenzie business in years gone by and now the last unit to be offered for sale. 'It is situated within a recognised and busy commercial area within the centre of the city and near the ongoing waterfront development. The location provides an opportunity to benefit from the ongoing improvements to this part of Dundee.' Offers over £85,000 are invited.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Much-loved car garage owned by Halfords announces it will close down in weeks after motoring retailer ‘reviews estate'
A POPULAR car garage owned by Halfords is set to close its doors in just a few weeks. National Tyres and Autocare in Broughty Ferry has been a familiar sight on the town's main road for years. 2 But now, the garage – part of the Halfords chain – will shut down following what the company calls a 'review of our estate.' Halfords says it is working to support the affected staff and is offering them alternative roles at other nearby locations where possible. While it's a tough blow for the local team, the company is aiming to soften the impact for workers. The garage has been a trusted spot for locals needing everything from tyre changes to car servicing. Its central location made it convenient for residents and those passing through Broughty Ferry. The building is already up for sale or lease, with Shepherd Chartered Surveyors marketing it at offers over £250,000 or a lease of £25,000 per year. They believe the site has potential for various commercial uses or redevelopment, though any major changes would need planning permission. A Halfords spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that our National Tyres and Autocare garage on Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, will close following a review of our estate in the area. We are committed to supporting impacted colleagues and are offering alternative roles at nearby Halfords locations where possible. Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down 'We'd like to thank our customers for their continued support and hope to welcome them at our Halfords Autocentre garage on East Dock Street, just an eight-minute drive away. Customers can also use our Halfords Mobile Expert service for tyre fittings, battery replacements, and other essentials right at their doorstep.' For many locals, the closure feels like the end of an era. The garage has been part of the fabric of the community, offering reliable service for countless motorists over the years. Customers now have the option to visit the East Dock Street location or make use of Halfords' mobile service, which promises to deliver car care straight to customers' homes. The news comes as the motoring industry faces wider challenges, such as the imminent closure of a huge car dealership with over 91,000 vehicles currently on sale — putting over 100 jobs at risk. The German online used car marketplace Heycar has suffered heavy losses since its launch in the UK in 2019, when it set out to rival Auto Trader and Motors. Now, its majority shareholder, Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS), has decided to pull the plug, leaving more than 126 employees across the UK, Germany, and France facing the risk of losing their jobs. A large proportion of Heycar's employees are based in the UK, and the company is expected to wind down its UK operations shortly after its closure in Germany, which is expected in mid-May. A VWFS spokesperson confirmed, 'We expect we will have to let go of a large portion of Heycar's employees.' Despite the closure, VWFS is planning to carry forward Heycar's innovations. In a statement, VWFS UK said: 'Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) UK is pleased to announce the launch of a new subsidiary that will integrate the technology and expertise developed by Heycar. 'Heycar has been a pioneer in the online used car marketplace and, despite the decision to wind down their operations, the valuable insights and digital solutions developed so far will play a crucial role in the future of VWFS UK, as we continue to explore new ways to drive growth and innovation in the automotive e-commerce space. 'We are anticipating that specialists and resources from Heycar will be joining the new subsidiary, ensuring we have the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively utilise and develop the technology we're acquiring.' Volkswagen Financial Services was the company's largest shareholder, holding a 78 percent stake, followed by Volkswagen at 13 percent and Renault at 9 percent. Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures. 2
