Large-scale cannabis farm found in house
ALARGE scale cannabis farm was discovered after a raid at a Southport house last Friday.
Police carrying out a search warrant at 5.15pm on August 4 found 148 plants, in three rooms of the property in Mount Street.
The rooms had been adapted for the growing of cannabis, with plants and associated growing equipment seized.
Officers removed the plants and hydroponic growing equipment. The electricity was also found to have been illegally bypassed.
Acting Inspector Andy Dentith said: “Cannabis cultivation by criminal gangs can cause serious harm in our communities.
“Criminal groups involved in the cultivation of cannabis are usually involved in other serious organised crime and they often rent residential properties such as this.
“Our communities can help us stop these groups, who are only interested in making money, from turning houses and flats into potential death traps.
“Nobody wants to live next door to these houses and we would ask that if you believe someone is using a property for this purpose, please tell us so we can take positive action and find those responsible for setting them up. The people who set up these farms often tamper with the electricity meters to steal electricity, and there will generally be a number of hot lamps hooked to overloaded electricity sockets as well as an extensive watering system.
“Electricity and water are never a good combination, and the fire service have seen an increase in the number of fires they have been called to as a result of fires caused by the crude systems put in place by the people who set up these farms.”
Anyone with information can call police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111