Cannabis farms in Cornwall 'hidden in plain sight'

Devon and Cornwall Police have been working with four other police forces in the south west to target organised crime groups involved in cannabis cultivation.

It has led to 67 arrests, £6.8 million worth of cannabis and weapons including a 9mm pistol being seized from different locations around the region.

Only last Wednesday, 416 cannabis plants with a potential street value of between £116,480 and £349,440 were seized in a raid on a former nightclub in Torquay, where a man was hiding on the roof.

Police have been supported by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, working alongside the Police and Crime Commissioners and independent charity Crimestoppers, carrying out 58 warrants and searches as part of a national operation.

A cannabis farm in the roof of a former nightclub in Torquay (Image: Devon and Cornwall Police)

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Cannabis production and use is a scourge on our communities and these so-called farms are often hidden in plain sight in derelict buildings or empty homes in our cities, towns and villages as well as rural areas.

“People living in Devon and Cornwall tell me time and again that they are sick of the sight and smell of cannabis in their neighbourhood. What some people think is a harmless bit of fun hides a grim reality of often vulnerable people forced to live in cramped and squalid conditions and being exploited for the financial gain of organised gangs.

“It is vital that anyone concerned about illegal activity in their area to let Crimestoppers know anonymously so the police can act to get this dangerous drug off the streets.”

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Police at a cannabis farm raid (Image: Devon and Cornwall Police)

As well as hunting down those involved in cultivating cannabis, police have also been raising awareness of the dangers that come with growing the plants, including fire risks, unlawful abstraction of electricity, fumes and water damage.

Landlords are being contacted about the issue, with signs to look out for potential grows in properties: Frequent visitors to a property at unsocial hours throughout the day and night.

• Blacked out windows or condensation on the windows, even when it is not cold outside.

• Bright lights in rooms throughout the night.

• Electricity meters being tampered with/altered and new cabling, sometimes leading to street lighting. High electricity bills could also be an indicator.

• A powerful, distinctive, sweet, sickly aroma and noise from fans.

• Lots of work or deliveries of equipment to an address, particularly those associated with growing plants indoors without soil such as heaters and lighting.

• An excessive amount of plant pots, chemicals, fertilisers, and compost.

Anyone with information about a potential cannabis cultivation or drug dealing can contact Devon and Cornwall Police online or via 101.

People can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org Chief Superintendent Ben Moseley, regional lead for the latest phase of the drugs operation, said: “People need to understand that, as this operation shows, cannabis cultivation is not a harmless or low-level offence.

“We know that it is a key source of illicit income for organised crime groups often involved in other serious and organised crime, including class A drug importation and supply, exploitation of vulnerable people through modern slavery, and serious violence as they compete for territory.”