£750k of drugs seized in Hillsborough
Police launched two raids in the area on Thursday
Police have seized £750,000 of drugs, in a double raid in Hillsborough last week (Thursday 5th August).
Officers from the South Yorkshire Police Walkley and Hillsborough team carried out warrants at Penistone Road and Owlerton Green, recovering drugs at both properties.
On Penistone Road, all four floors of the address had suspected cannabis plants discovered, as well as dangerous electrical cabling hanging from ceilings and stairwells.
Sergeant Simon Kirkham said: “This was a live grow, with some of the plants just hours away from being cropped, dried and packaged up for the streets.
“We seized around 300 mature plants, worth around £300,000 plus around £200 of bagged drugs.
“Cannabis production is big business, and it feeds into a much wider picture of exploitation, organised crime and violence. The people involved in this type of drug supply, are more often than not involved in other types of criminality too.
“It’s vital that we take action to disrupt these networks which are damaging our communities; putting a dent in production and profits is our priority.”
At the second address on Owlerton Green, officers discovered a sack of prepared cannabis in the cellar, worth around £50,000.
The team also seized a further 400 plants, with forensic examinations also taking place throughout the property.
PC Max Jackson added: “A lot of the properties we’ve raided recently are extremely dangerous, not only due to the unsafe wiring, but makeshift renovation work creating hazardous living conditions.
“Ladders are used instead of staircases; holes are cut in floors and nails are hammered into stair-rails – with the intention of keeping people like police officers out.
“Both of these properties create fire risks to surrounding properties and they attract other forms of criminality, disrupting the peace for those around them."