Cannabis factory uncovered, Bangor
16 Jul 2010
Detectives from the PSNI’s Organised Crime Branch have uncovered and shut down a cannabis factory following a proactive intelligence led operation in County Down.
Cannabis plants with a potential value in the region of £500,000 have been removed from a private property on the Newtownards Road in Bangor today, July 16 2010.
The property had a considerable amount of heating and lighting equipment which is known to be used in hydroponics, a method adopted by organised crime gangs to grow large amounts of cannabis plants.
Detective Inspector Douglas Grant said while a substantial amount of drugs have now been removed from the streets, cannabis factories like the one shut down today pose a serious health risk to the public.
“We have taken a huge amount of drugs out of circulation and believe today’s actions may have saved lives and prevented substantial damage to property. The equipment these criminals were using was installed in a dangerous manner, which exposed the property, adjoining properties and members of the local community to the danger of fire.
It is important for members of the community to report any suspicious activity to police. If a house or any other type of dwelling near you has blackened windows or is giving off a pungent smell, or there are people coming and going from the property at strange times of the day, there could be cannabis growing inside.
It is also important that private landlords carry out thorough checks on their tenants, as organised crime gangs use rental properties for cannabis factories. The PSNI has shut down a considerable number of these and many were owned by private landlords who did not realise their property was being used for crime. Landlords who need advice on what to look for if they suspect their property is being used as a cannabis factory can visit the PSNI website on www.psni.police.uk or call their local Crime Prevention Officer ”
