Multi-million pound cannabis farm found

Merseyside Police has launched an investigation after the discovery of a cannabis farm with around 520 plants in Everton. At about 12.20pm on Wednesday 29th June, a member of the public reported they had discovered a cannabis farm at an address on Breck Road. Officers attended and upon entering discovered five rooms in the property, above a shop premises, had been adapted for the growing of cannabis. The farm would have had an estimated annual yield of more than £2m. Merseyside Police’s specialist cannabis dismantling team attended to remove the plants and sophisticated hydroponic growing equipment, as well as scales and vacuum seal bags. The electricity was also found to have been illegally bypassed. Chief Inspector Gary O’Rourke said: “The cannabis found would have an estimated annual yield of more than £2 million. Thankfully officers have taken action and prevented criminals from making any further financial gain from this cannabis farm. "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 industrial properties such as this. "The growing of cannabis also brings dangers to neighbouring properties because cannabis farms are a serious fire risk. 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. "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." 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.

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