Published: 29/07/2010 15:55 -
Updated: 29/07/2010 16:06
One of the largest cannabis factories ever found in the county was raided early on Tuesday morning.
Between 500 and 1,000 plants, with a street value of £500,000, were found at the Coral Cottage, Stowe Hill, Weedon after police were tipped off by residents.
Nineteen officers raided the premises at 8.30am. The five bedroom cottage had seven rooms dedicated to cultivating the drug and had been wired directly to the main electricity point and was using the energy for free.
Sergeant Matthew Manifold said: “We believe the property has been used like this for about a year and the plants are turned over in approximately two months, which means that this factory alone could have produced £2 million.
“This is the biggest I have dealt with and I have been involved with clearing 20 to 30 factories in the past.” Police revealed that they had confirmed the rumours by flying a police helicopter over the property to see how much heat it was giving off.
Sergeant Manifold said: “We flew a helicopter over the property at 3am about four weeks ago.
“We knew straightaway that it was a factory because it was glowing orange, when everything else was black.” Residents living in canal barges next to the cottage were not surprised to hear of the factory’s existence but were shocked at the scale of the operation.
One resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: “We knew that something was going on in there because people would come and go at all times of the night.
“The lights would be on all the time and there was a funny smell.” A 28-year-old man was arrested at the house and charged with drugs offences.
A 69-year-old man from Daventry, believed to be the owner of the house, was also later arrested.
He was bailed pending further enquiries.
Weedon cannabis factory
Nineteen officers raided the premises at 8.30am. The five bedroom cottage had seven rooms dedicated to cultivating the drug and had been wired directly to the main electricity point and was using the energy for free.
Sergeant Matthew Manifold said: “We believe the property has been used like this for about a year and the plants are turned over in approximately two months, which means that this factory alone could have produced £2 million.
“This is the biggest I have dealt with and I have been involved with clearing 20 to 30 factories in the past.” Police revealed that they had confirmed the rumours by flying a police helicopter over the property to see how much heat it was giving off.
Sergeant Manifold said: “We flew a helicopter over the property at 3am about four weeks ago.
One resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: “We knew that something was going on in there because people would come and go at all times of the night.
“The lights would be on all the time and there was a funny smell.” A 28-year-old man was arrested at the house and charged with drugs offences.
A 69-year-old man from Daventry, believed to be the owner of the house, was also later arrested.
He was bailed pending further enquiries.
