This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6385839.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Police uncover cannabis factories Man charged over cannabis plants
(about 6 hours later)
Cannabis plants with a street value of up to £3m have been seized during raids across the west of Scotland. A 35-year-old man has been arrested in Fife following the discovery of cannabis plants worth more than £140,000.
Ting Yen Chen appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on four drug charges including producing a controlled drug, and intent to supply.
He made no plea and was remanded in custody.
The arrest was linked to an operation across Central Scotland where £3m worth of cannabis plants were recovered.
More than 20 houses, many thought to be luxury three and four-bedroomed homes, were being used as cannabis factories.More than 20 houses, many thought to be luxury three and four-bedroomed homes, were being used as cannabis factories.
Cannabis factories
Up to 5,000 plants were seized from the properties by police and more than a dozen people were arrested during Operation League.Up to 5,000 plants were seized from the properties by police and more than a dozen people were arrested during Operation League.
Strathclyde Police said the factories were believed to be connected to organised crime.
A number of the people arrested were Vietnamese and Chinese.
The operation began in November 2006, with the most recent raids being carried out on Wednesday and Thursday in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow.The operation began in November 2006, with the most recent raids being carried out on Wednesday and Thursday in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow.
It is understood criminals are paying cash to rent the properties and it may be the project of one professional group. Det Ch Supt Stephen Whitelock, director of intelligence for Strathclyde Police, said: "We are talking about good quality houses, three and four-bedroomed detached homes which have been converted into factories and are growing high-grade cannabis.
'Vast profits'
Det Ch Supt Stephen Whitelock, director of intelligence for Strathclyde Police, said: "These are sophisticated factories involving organised crime.
"We are talking about good quality houses, three and four-bedroomed detached homes which have been converted into factories and are growing high-grade cannabis.
There is no doubt that the large scale cultivation of cannabis has strong links to other forms of serious organised crime Det Ch Supt Stephen Ward
"There is a real fire hazard here and it's important that we put out a very strong message of the dangers that these factories pose.
"We are not talking about 10 or 12 plants in the house. There are entire homes covered in plants with 30 or 40 to every room.""We are not talking about 10 or 12 plants in the house. There are entire homes covered in plants with 30 or 40 to every room."
Fire risk
It is believed that the factories are in homes rented from legitimate leasing agencies and landlords, with some valued at about £750,000.It is believed that the factories are in homes rented from legitimate leasing agencies and landlords, with some valued at about £750,000.
These domestic factories need large amounts of heat and many electrical systems in these homes have been bypassed to eliminate high-powered lamps from that system.These domestic factories need large amounts of heat and many electrical systems in these homes have been bypassed to eliminate high-powered lamps from that system.
Police said in the past 10 years, the volume of cannabis grown in the United Kingdom had risen from 10% to 60%.Police said in the past 10 years, the volume of cannabis grown in the United Kingdom had risen from 10% to 60%.
Det Ch Supt Stephen Ward, of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency said: "We are well aware that cannabis is increasingly a commodity being trafficked by organised crime groups for vast profits.
"There is no doubt that the large scale cultivation of cannabis has strong links to other forms of serious organised crime."
Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service urged members of the public and other agencies to be vigilant as the criminal activity in the factories had already led to two fires.Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service urged members of the public and other agencies to be vigilant as the criminal activity in the factories had already led to two fires.