Cannabis plants crop dumped in countryside
18 LARGE BAGS OF THE DRUG DISCOVERED ON A BRIDLEWAY
A BIG crop of cannabis plants has been found dumped in the countryside.
Police said the “have-a-go gardener” left the plants on a bridle path at Ellistown.
Officers removed the plants, filling 18 large bags in the process.
The team from North West Leicestershire police shared a photograph of the bagged-up stalks on their Facebook page.
They said: “Upon attendance, officers found a large quantity of cannabis plants that had recently been cut down and dumped at the location.
“Eighteen bags of cannabis crop has been recovered and are now being destroyed.”
Police have been called to a series of similar discoveries in open countryside over the past few years.
Previously, police have linked illegal growing operations with crime gangs which keep the plants’ gardeners in conditions of slavery.
The force has urged people to report homes or other properties if they suspect they are being used for cannabis cultivation.
Police have also urged residential landlords to carry out regular checks on their properties in a city neighbourhood which is being targeted by cannabis growers.
Officers have appealed directly to landlords or their agents to look in on their homes every three months.
They believe that if such checks were carried out every 12 weeks – approximately the time it takes for a cannabis plant to provide a yield – it would deliver a significant blow to the illegal trade and deter others from setting up in the area.
Crime gangs are targeting the Narborough Road and West End areas because of the high number of rental homes and rapid population turnover provide cover for them to operate, police believe.
The set-ups are a significant fire hazard because criminals tamper with the electrical supply to power the cultivation equipment.
Tell-tale signs a property is being used for cannabis cultivation can include:
Excessive fortification;
Silver duct tape hanging out of windows;
Blacked-out window; Condensation on windows; Peeling wallpaper or mildewed walls;
A pungent smell;
Sudden fluctuations in electricity bills;
Electrical wiring having been tampered with.