A gang splicing electricity for a cannabis farm caused an explosion, exposing a widespread operation across the UK.
The group called themselves Elev8 Civils and Utilities Ltd. Ross McGinn and Andrew Campbell led them. They dug up roads all over the UK. It looked like normal construction work. They wore safety vests and used road signs.
But their work was sloppy and dangerous. There was even a small explosion. One guy, Andrew Roberts, got burned pretty badly. He messed up connecting something. A Scottish Power expert said their work was awful and very dangerous.
The police investigated them after a cannabis farm bust. It happened in North Wales in January 2023. The farm was worth about £1.2 million. The wiring was so bad the building was unsafe. CCTV showed the gang working with an Elev8 van.
They talked about jobs in a WhatsApp group. They worked everywhere, even far away cities. McGinn and Andrew Roberts ran the company day to day. Graham Roberts spliced cables. Ashurst, Black, Charles, Doran, and Sherry were groundworkers.
Colin White stole equipment. Another person linked the gang to Albanians. Cops found over 100 farms. They seized cannabis worth £21 million. Albanian nationals often worked at the farms. They said they were trafficked into the UK for their debt.
Police arrested the gang members back on February 8th, 2024. They seized equipment like diggers and vans. Everyone got charged except one person. McGinn, Roberts, and White faced additional charges for stealing power.
The court sentenced McGinn to five years and four months. Andrew Roberts got six years in jail. Graham Roberts received five years and three months. Black was sentenced to three years and nine months. Charles got two years and eight months.
Doran received three years in prison. White got two years and six months. Sherry got a suspended sentence. McGinn and Roberts also received a crime prevention order.