A Clydebank "dance studio" hosted an "industrial" cannabis farm worth nearly a quarter million pounds, a court has heard.
Taulant Dragot and Nerjan Ibro pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis after being caught with hundreds of plants.
The grow-op was discovered nearly six years ago but the case only resolved on January 14.
Confirming their pleas through an Albanian interpreter, the men, both from Watford, Hertfordshire, appeared from custody at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.
The large industrial unit within a business park off Glasgow Road, Clydebank, had been leased to a third party in January 2020 "as a dance studio".
Fiscal depute Mandy Robertson said police were on patrol around 1.50am nearby when they detected a strong smell of cannabis.
On getting out of their vehicle, the followed the smell to the unit and then heard male voices coming from inside. There also appeared to be industrial ventilation fans.
A short time later, Dragot, 34, and Ibro, 37, exited with another man through a fire escape.
A search warrant found the building had been "completely converted for the purposes of cultivating cannabis with industrial-scale cultivation equipment," said Mrs Robertson.
There were several growth areas and make-shift living quarters.
A total of 344 plants were found, all mature and healthy. It was estimated they had been growing for at least three months.
The potential of each plant was up to £2,200. Analysis said the total value could be £219,350.
Sheriff Maxwell Hendry noted that 344 multiplied by £2,200 was more than £750,000. The Crown said the lower number was the total estimated value.
He said prison was the "only possible outcome".
Dragot's solicitor said his client had not been in trouble for five and a half years since the arrested.
Sentence was deferred for reports to be prepared and the men were remanded.
There was no explanation offered in court as to the delay in the case concluding after more than five years.
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