A group of fraudsters who posed as electricity workers to power illegal cannabis farms worth £21 million have been jailed.
The gang set up fake roadworks, dug up pavements, and illegally tapped into street cables to divert electricity to cannabis factories across the UK, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
Their operations spanned 32 locations over four years, with farms discovered in a former hotel, shops, a nightclub, a pub, and an abandoned department store.
Eight men were sentenced for their roles in the scheme, which involved a bogus company, Elev8 Civils and Utilities Limited.
The directors, Ross McGinn, 33, from Merseyside, and Andrew Roberts, 42, from Wigan, presented themselves as legitimate electricians, even promoting their services on LinkedIn.
However, investigations revealed they were working with Albanian organised crime groups to supply power to illegal cannabis farms.
The gang used high-visibility clothing, barriers, and official-looking signage to appear legitimate while illegally bypassing electricity meters.
Their operation was described as highly sophisticated but extremely dangerous, with video evidence showing electrical explosions during their work. One photo even showed Roberts with burns on his face, believed to have been caused by the illegal cable tampering.
Authorities launched Operation Spark to track the group, uncovering over 100 cannabis farms nationwide.
Police forces from across the UK, including the Metropolitan Police, Durham, and Gloucestershire, took part in the investigation. Many of the farms were run by Albanian nationals, some of whom claimed to have been trafficked into the country.
The operation was first exposed in North Wales when police discovered £1.2 million worth of cannabis in an abandoned store on Bangor High Street.
CCTV footage linked the criminals to the site, showing them arriving in an Elev8-branded van.
A subsequent raid at the company’s base in Wigan uncovered industrial equipment, including diggers, breakers, generators, and large amounts of cabling.
McGinn and Roberts pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy to abstract electricity and assisting criminal activity.
McGinn was sentenced to five years and four months, breaking down in tears as he appeared via video link. Roberts received a six-year sentence.
Graham Roberts, 47, from Wigan, who was responsible for cutting and connecting live cables, was jailed for five years and three months.
Four other men in their twenties were also convicted for their involvement, with three receiving prison sentences.
Authorities have warned that the case highlights the extreme lengths criminals will go to in order to run illegal drug operations while putting public safety at risk.
