(Updated 31/8/11, suspects named): Police have seized around 1,000 plants after a cannabis factory was discovered in an empty house in Morecambe.
Officers were called to the property on Alexandra Road at around midnight on Monday, following a report of a break-in at the address. A number of discarded cannabis plants were found outside the premises and an operational support unit was then called upon to gain entry to the building.
Inside, officers discovered a large-scale sophisticated cannabis production set-up on all five floors of the house, with in excess of 1,000 plants at various stages of growth or harvest. A full audit of the factory will take place today but it is estimated that the plants could have a street value of around £400,000.
28-year-old Vietnamese man Le Canh was arrested on suspicion of producing class B drugs and possessing class A drugs (ecstasy), along with a 20-year-old Vietnamese man Dung Pham, arrested on suspicion of producing class B drugs. Both of no fixed abode, they were due to appear before Lancaster Magistrates Court on Wednesday 31st August charged with producing a class B drug (cannabis) and abstracting electricity.
Both are currently in police custody.
“This is a significant seizure of cannabis plants from what appears to be a very organised and sophisticated production system,” notes Inspector Dave Vickers from Morecambe police. “The seizure of these plants, along with equipment being used to grow them, will prevent a large amount of drugs from reaching our streets.
“Drug abuse has a number of knock-on effects which cause problems for out communities,:” he added, “crimes such as burglary, car crime and robbery are often committed to fund a drug habit. We’re committed to tackling those who produce and sell drugs in our neighbourhoods and our investigations into this particular set-up are ongoing.”