FIVE men have been remanded in custody pending their trial in connection with the discovery of cannabis with an estimated street value of more than £2.3 million in Galashiels.

Police raided two empty shop outlets in Channel Street last week when they discovered the large cannabis cultivations.

Both buildings – formerly occupied by Woolworths and Ladbrokes – are positioned opposite each other in the main shopping thoroughfare in the Borders town.

At Selkirk Sheriff Court on Thursday five men faced a second private court appearance charged with being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug.

Sixty-three-year-old Besim Velija, Petrit Musta, who is 47, 35-year-old Shpetim Halili, Joanis Melcani, who is 26, and 20-year-old Laurent Baih made no plea and were all fully committed for trial.

They were all described as of no fixed abode but are from Albania.

The huge haul is believed to be the biggest ever seized in a single day in the Borders, and is almost double the 1,400 plants – valued at £1.2million – unearthed in a derelict mill in Selkirk last year.