Albanian remanded in custody over claims he ran cannabis farm yards from Scots cop shop

A man accused of running a cannabis farm just yards away from a police station has been remanded in custody over the claims.

Vilson Gjinaj was detained following a raid on a premises in Saltcoats, Ayrshire.

The property in question, in the seaside town's Canal Street, is a former garage and a stone's throw from Saltcoats Police Office.

The Albanian, of London, appeared in the dock at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court today, Friday, February 13, 2026.

He made no plea to the two charges he faces - producing a controlled drug and being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs.

Both charges are brought under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

The 29-year-old was fully committed for trial and he was remanded in custody during his private hearing this afternoon.

Gjinaj was arrested after the cannabis farm was discovered by Police Scotland officers in the early hours of Tuesday, February 3.

He was held in custody at Saltcoats Police Office before his first Kilmarnock Sheriff Court appearance, which took place last week.

At that hearing, the case against him was continued for prosecutors to investigate further and he was remanded in custody.

The raid came following eyewitness reports of a strong smell of cannabis in the area.

One local even said they smelled it while driving past the garage with their car windows up.

The building in question was a former car garage called McMaster Motors.

Police vehicles were spotted at the front and back of the building following the operation.

Bags, boxes and other items were left outside the front entrance to the garage, which is around 300 yards from the police station.

And a roller shutter covering the front door appears to have been forced open when officers gained entry to the property.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “In the early hours of Tuesday, 3 February, 2026, a cannabis cultivation was discovered at a premises on Canal Street in Saltcoats.

“A 29-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection."