Pot times July 15, 2005
Police Raid On Drugs Factory
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1119/a08.htmlNewshawk: Herb
Pubdate: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 POLICE RAID ON DRUGS FACTORY
Source: Bexley Times (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Archant Regional
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(Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Over a thousand cannabis plants have been found in flats at addresses across
Greenwich.
After receiving special intelligence Greenwich Police raided 23 houses as part
of Operation Damson, to foil the dramatic increase of cannabis factories across
London.
A team of 130 officers joined members of EDF energy to take possession of
premises suspected to contain the plants, arrest anyone thought to be involved,
check the premises for safety and hand the properties back into the care of
their letting agents.
Chief Superintendent Peter Lowton held a briefing before the operation.
He said: "Since last August, 53 factories have been disrupted across
Greenwich and although Greenwich does not currently fit the demographics of a
high Class A drug use area, it does have the potential.
"The escalation in the quantity of cannabis available across the borough
could attract more serious drug abuse and its associated problems.
"It could attract criminals from other areas.
"Research has shown the common method of obtaining properties for use as
cannabis factories is for an individual to rent the properties through a private
letting agency.
"Once the properties have been let the locks are then changed and work done
to bypass the electricity meter and convert the premises into a factory.
"Once in use, the factory can produce a harvest every three months and
after the initial outlay for the premises and equipment, a profit will be
generated after approximately three harvests.
"As well as the social issues associated with illegal drug supply, there
are significant public health and safety concerns around the cultivation and
distribution of cannabis."
At 8am police stormed a property in Chestnut Rise, Plumstead, to be confronted
by a fully operational cannabis factory harbouring nearly 100 plants.
The living room, bedrooms and loft had been used to grow the plants which were
all in plant pots in soil with lights above them and hundreds of electricity
cables surrounding them.
A spokesman for EDF energy who accompanied police on the raid to ensure the
safety of the property said: "The amount of electricity needed 24 hours a
day, seven days a week in a factory like this is immense.
"There is probably around A?10,000 worth of wiring and electricity here.
"Electrical wiring is often done haphazardly by unskilled people who have
only basic knowledge of electrical work and grounding is rarely done properly
meaning live wires are exposed and multiple electrical transformers are often on
relay switches to provide uninterrupted power.
"Toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are released into
the air and can be a hazard not only for those working or living in the house,
but also for neighbours.
"That's not to mention that over 100 fires are caused each year in London
by the bad electrical work carried out in these cannabis factories."
Intelligence leading to the closure of the factories across the borough came
from a number of sources, the main one being the Safer Neighbourhood teams
patrolling the area.
In addition to the cannabis factories, a number of DVDs were found in two
premises, suggesting an associated counterfeit activity.
A total of 13 people were arrested, two on suspicion of immigration offences and
11 in connection with the cultivation of cannabis.
One sick dog was found and given in to the protection of the RSPCA, and three
children aged ten, four and one were found unattended and taken into Police
protection.
In all premises visited there was evidence of illegal abstraction of
electricity.
