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Cannabis farms uncovered 'treble' | Cannabis farms uncovered 'treble' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The number of cannabis farms being found by police has trebled over the last two years, according to a report. | The number of cannabis farms being found by police has trebled over the last two years, according to a report. |
Charity DrugScope said 1,500 cannabis farms were found in London alone in the past two years, compared with around 500 in the previous two years. | Charity DrugScope said 1,500 cannabis farms were found in London alone in the past two years, compared with around 500 in the previous two years. |
Its magazine Druglink said over 60% of cannabis sold in the UK was grown here, compared to 11% 10 years ago. | Its magazine Druglink said over 60% of cannabis sold in the UK was grown here, compared to 11% 10 years ago. |
The charity said analysis of police raids showed up to 75% of cannabis farms were run by Vietnamese gangs. | The charity said analysis of police raids showed up to 75% of cannabis farms were run by Vietnamese gangs. |
In the last 12 months, Vietnamese-run cannabis farms have been found in London, Birmingham, south Wales, the North East, Yorkshire and East Anglia, DrugScope added. | In the last 12 months, Vietnamese-run cannabis farms have been found in London, Birmingham, south Wales, the North East, Yorkshire and East Anglia, DrugScope added. |
Residential properties | Residential properties |
An average of 400 plants are recovered in a police raid, as officers continue to target farms in residential and commercial properties. | An average of 400 plants are recovered in a police raid, as officers continue to target farms in residential and commercial properties. |
In London, where the class C drug is worth £100m a year, the Metropolitan Police says it has closed down two to three factories a day and destroyed 1.5 tonnes of cannabis a week over the past 18 months. | |
Most of the farms are in London but DrugScope said others have been raided as far afield as Glasgow, Birmingham, East Anglia, south Wales, the North East and Yorkshire | |
Charity spokesman Martin Barnes said many of the farms were set up in empty residential properties taken over by the growers. | |
"Sometimes, often because of the link with people trafficking, somebody can be committed to actually looking after the property," he told BBC News. | "Sometimes, often because of the link with people trafficking, somebody can be committed to actually looking after the property," he told BBC News. |
"We have come across cases where neighbours have actually reported the existence of these plants because burglars have broken into a house, have accidentally stumbled upon cannabis and have been seen running away with the stuff." | "We have come across cases where neighbours have actually reported the existence of these plants because burglars have broken into a house, have accidentally stumbled upon cannabis and have been seen running away with the stuff." |