Cannabis farmer's profits confiscated

A confiscation order for a further £35,000 was made against Craig Ross (42) from Muirhead taking the total confiscated from him to £53,000.

On 24 August 2010, police officers searched his home and when asked if there were any controlled drugs in the house, Ross directed officers to a sophisticated cannabis cultivation in the loft. A total of 37 plants at various stages of growth alongside paraphernalia associated with cannabis cultivation were recovered. In March 2011 he pled guilty to cultivating cannabis and was sentenced to 120 hours community payback.

A subsequent financial investigation established that his total benefit from crime was £67,277.54.

However, at that stage Ross had only £10,000 of assets, and on 15 January 2013, the court made an order for the confiscation of that total.

In selling off his assets, Ross raised more than initial estimates had anticipated and the original confiscation order was increased by £18,000 and the additional funds raised were also reclaimed to the public purse.

In October 2015, the Crown became aware that the accused was registered as a joint owner of the property on Leighton Street, Glasgow and the most recent order has increased again to include his share of the property.

Lindsey Miller, Deputy Crown Agent for Serious Casework, said: “Ross may well have thought his previous profits from drug dealing were safe and beyond the reach of the authorities.

“However he has learned that Scottish prosecutors remain dogged in our determination to recoup every penny of criminal earnings for the public purse, where it will be reinvested in community projects across Scotland.”