Police have seized £850,000 of cannabis from illegal factories in weekend raids across Britain.
Police in Cumbria confiscated nearly 700 cannabis plants, worth £550,000, as part of a crackdown on ‘commerical industrial-level cultivation’.
The drugs were snatched in areas including including Workington and Seascale.
Detective Superintendent Hussey mentioned that criminals are becoming more creative in hiding cannabis cultivation activities. They are not limiting themselves to rooms but also using spaces like the back of shops and industrial buildings where people work every day.
‘These are illegal operations and, as such, are not subject to the usual rules that legitimate businesses follow to protect property and people.
‘Cannabis farms are very dangerous places and pose a serious risk of fire.
‘Often the electricity meter has been bypassed – and seriously overloaded electrical circuits run close to water-filled pipes.
‘Plants grown upstairs in a building can also cause floorboards to rot, presenting the danger of collapse.’
Police have seized £850,000 of cannabis from illegal factories in weekend raids across Britain
Police in Cumbria confiscated nearly 700 cannabis plants, worth £550,000, as part of a crackdown on ‘commerical industrial-level cultivation’
‘Criminals are using more inventive ways to conceal cannabis grows – not just in rooms, but in the back of shops,’ Det Supt Hussey said
Meanwhile, Police seized a huge £300,000 stash of cannabis during a house raid in Northern Ireland.
Two men, aged 22 and 32, have been arrested after the enormous stash was found at a house in Hillsborough, County Down.
During a police raid that took place at approximately 10:30 pm yesterday, around 150 cannabis plants, harvested cannabis, and other related items were seized by the authorities.
The drugs, which police say have a street value of £300,000 have been removed for further examination.
Damage has also been caused to the property, police confirmed.
The Police Service Northern Ireland reported that two individuals, a 22-year-old and a 32-year-old, were taken into custody on suspicion of various offenses. These include possession of a class B controlled substance, possession with intent to supply a class B controlled drug, and cultivation of cannabis. Both suspects are currently undergoing questioning by detectives.
‘Our enquiries are continuing but this operation demonstrates that we continue to be committed to removing drugs from the local community and dealing with organised crime gangs involved in the production and supply of controlled drugs.
‘Damage has been caused to the property involved and I would urge landlords and letting agents to ensure they obtain appropriate identification when renting out properties and conduct regular checks and report to police anything that causes them concern.’
Police seized a huge £300,000 cannabis stash during a house raid in Northern Ireland
Around 150 cannabis plants along with harvested cannabisand other items were confiscated by police
The seizures come amid a wider crackdown on cannabis farms nationwide.
On Friday, Hampshire Police said they had seized 1,400 cannabis plants as well as cash, phones, weapons, growing and lighting equipment and made eleven arrests as part of Operation Mille, a nationwide crackdown on major cannabis grows.
Police said 48,328 cannabis plants, worth over £48million, have now been seized across the country as part of the years long operation.
Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Adam Ball, who led the operation, said: ‘Cannabis may seem harmless but its production and subsequent selling has long fuelled other serious acts of criminality, which in turn blight our communities.
‘It’s links to the importation of class A drugs, county lines and gang violence is prevalent, as well as the alarming levels of exploitation people fall victim to.’
