Two men were arrested after police raided a large cannabis factory in Coventry. It was the second warrant to be executed in a single day as police crack down on organised crime in the city.
A number of police officers smashed through the door during the raid on Wednesday January 25. Two men, believed to be Albanian nationals, were arrested and referred to immigration services after being caught red-handed at the property in Gulson Road.
Officers discovered around 90 plants inside the building with the upstairs being used to grow and harvest the drug. It is estimate the haul would have had a street value of £100,000.
Police seized more than £300,000 worth of drugs last week as part of a wider operation against organised crime groups which has targeted a number of cannabis farms in Coventry. The lion’s share of the seizures came from a raided property in Bramble Street, which was dubbed ‘one of the worst’ officers had ever seen in the city with £230,000 worth of drugs inside.
Electricity was bypassed in both properties which meant there was a serious fire risk which could have put the lives of residents and neighbours in danger. A top police officer said the sophisticated set-up could be ‘lethal.’
A spokesman for National Grid said: “We were there to ensure the electrics are safe. Unsafe connections as a result of bypassed meters or overloaded sockets create a fire risk.
“We strongly advise the public never to tamper with our equipment as the voltages we work with pose a risk of death. Our engineers are trained to deal with the risks and have the correct safety equipment and authorisations to work on the network.”
Inspector Alex Heeley, from Coventry Police, said: “As part of Neighbourhood Policing Week we’ve executed these warrants and shut down sophisticated drug operations. The cultivation of cannabis, and illegal use of properties, not only fuels the drugs market but also further crime which harms our communities.
“The setups to bypass electricity are dangerous and have led to fires at properties. This can put the lives of people at risk. Vulnerable people can also be exploited and we’ll continue to target those suspected of running and organising these drug factories.”
Coventry Police said they have discovered over 20 cannabis farms in the city already this year. Almost half have been discovered during burglaries where gangs will steal the harvested crop from rival groups.
