A MAN ran a cannabis farm from his flat cultivating plants worth up to £64,800 because he was in debt to Albanians, a court was told.

Alfons Celaj, 29, ran the operation from four rooms at his home in Govanhill in January this year.

Celaj was snared after officers originally turned up at his door for a “completely different enquiry.”

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard officers were amazed when they saw what was going on.

Prosecutor Mark Allan said: “There was a cannabis cultivation ongoing which concerned four rooms in the flat.”

The hearing was told that “mature plants” were kept in separate rooms from the “younger plants.”

Cannabis making equipment, such as fans and plastic sheeting, was also uncovered from the flat in Allison Street.

Mr Allan told the court the value of the plants ranged from £21,000 in the bottom end to £64,000 at the top end of street value, depending on quality.

Celaj was arrested where it was found that the Albanian national had been living in the UK illegally a few months prior to the find.

Celaj, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty on Friday to producing cannabis.

Lawyer, David Mitchell, defending, told the court Celaj was working off a debt of €20,000 to “Albanian individuals.”

He added: “The reason he came here was he was promised work as a labourer and it turned out to be false.

“He was desperate and he was frightened for his safety.”

Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports by Sheriff Lindsay Wood who remanded Celaj in custody.

He told him: “This is a serious matter you pled guilty to, you brought this on yourself.

“Because of the circumstances of this crime, there is a chance you will get a lengthy custodial sentence.”