Ariel Ruko, 24, was one of three men caught after police raided the former Tobacco Warehouse building in Clarence Street, Greenock, on 5 June 2025.[1] Ruko, Giap Ba Thai, 51, and Ervin Guri, 38, were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow after admitting being concerned in the supply of cannabis.[1] Each man received four years in prison, cut from five years to reflect their guilty pleas.[1] Newly released court documents show Ruko has appealed against his jail term.[1] A hearing before two appeal judges is due at the High Court in Edinburgh on 17 November.[1]

Inside the disused warehouse, police found a large-scale cultivation with sophisticated equipment growing more than 1,000 plants, plus dozens of vacuum-sealed bags of cannabis.[2] The court heard the haul had a potential value of around £1.3 million.[2] The factory came to light after two officers smelled cannabis while walking in the area.[1]

Prosecutors said it was apparent that people had also been living inside the building.[1] When police arrived, fans could be heard whirring and several doors were locked from the inside.[1] All three men were first offenders; Ruko and Guri are originally from Albania, while Thai is from Vietnam.[1] Ruko’s lawyer told the sentencing hearing his client had been in the UK for four years but had no immigration status.[1] The judge called claims that at least one of the men had not known what they were involved in absolutely ridiculous, noting police could smell cannabis from the street.[1]