Merseyside Police Cannabis Dismantling Team discover 3 farms across Merseyside worth more than ₤2 million

MERSEYSIDE Police's specialist Cannabis Dismantling Team have seized cannabis worth over ₤2 million following action carried out across the Force, on 24 January 2018.  

At around 1.45pm on Tuesday, 23 January 2018, a cannabis farm was reported as having been found at a derelict address on The Serpentine South, Blundellsands.

121 plants with an estimated yield of ₤460,000 and equipment were seized from the basement of the address. The house was under development and electricity had been bridged, and was made safe.

At around 1.20pm, on Tuesday, 23 January 2018, a warrant was carried out by a utilities company at an address on Claude Road, Anfield. A total of 419 plants worth around ₤1.6 million were found across 5 rooms. The plants and equipment were seized.

At 7.35am on Wednesday 24 January 2018, a cannabis farm comprising 29 plants (worth an estimated annual yield of ₤120,000) was found after a warrant was carried out at an address, located in Bowland Drive, Litherland.

Enquiries are ongoing to establish those responsible and anyone with further information is asked to contact Police directly or anonymously through Crimestoppers.

Sergeant Gary Sorrell, who manages the Cannabis Dismantling Team, said:- "Today has seen 3 separate discoveries across Merseyside, which is not unusual for our team. We are tireless in our efforts to rid the streets of Merseyside from these death traps, so as long as individuals and groups keep setting these farms up, we will keep dismantling them. Information from the community and our partners is the key to identifying and taking apart these farms, and we will always act on what communities tell us. Cannabis is far from a harmless drug. It is hugely profitable to grow and sell it and we know that organised crime groups set up and control these factories, often in the very heart of local communities. Only yesterday, there was a shooting close to Bowland Drive, where today, The links between drug supply and organised crime are irrefutable, and no law abiding person wants to live near a magnet for crime. The knock on effects can be devastating for communities, as rival criminals fighting for control of these farms bring violence and intimidation to the streets. Many of these cannabis factories are nothing less than death traps and we are increasingly finding more in residential areas, right next to where other people live. Often the electricity supply has been tampered with and this, coupled with the heat lamps and water system, increases the risk of a fire or flood breaking out inside. Given that these farms are often tucked away inside ordinary terraced and semi detached houses, this is jeopardising people's safety in our communities. I would urge people to keep an eye out for certain tell tale signs that cannabis may be grown where they live. Fresh cannabis has a more pungent, sickly smell compared to when it is smoked. Houses will often have the windows sealed with newspapers and foil to keep the heat in and prevent people looking in. People may suddenly visit at strange hours of the night to bring growing equipment in or to remove the drugs, yet in between it may seem like no one lives there."

Some of the signs that cannabis is being grown are:-

► Strange smells and sounds.

► Frequent and varied visitors to a property, often at unusual times.

► Gardening equipment being taken into a property, such as:- plant pots, fertiliser, fans and industrial lighting.

► Windows are sealed and covered or the curtains are permanently closed.

► Heat from an adjoining property.

► Birds gathering on a roof in cold weather.

Individually these activities may seem commonplace, however, together may indicate something more sinister... Anyone with any information can call Police on:- 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111.