Wiltshire Police have seized around 500 cannabis plants after being called to suspicious activity at an industrial estate in Royal Wootton Bassett.
Police were called by a member of the public on Wednesday morning who expressed concerns about a strong smell coming from a business unit at the Whitehill Industrial Estate.
A warrant was authorised and when officers entered the unit they discovered a sophisticated drug production operation and seized around 500 cannabis plants.
There has been extensive police activity at the site over the past few days, but the site has now been cleared.
A 53-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the production of cannabis and has been released under investigation.
Enquiries are currently ongoing. Inspector James Brain, from the local Community Policing Team, said: “This member of the public did exactly the right thing and, after noticing something suspicious about this premises, alerted police so it could be investigated.
“The production and supply of any illegal drugs is a concern, but we want people to be aware that these types of cannabis factories have a number of issues which impact on the local community. There is often associated nuisance and anti-social behaviour, including the strong smell, and can sometimes be linked to exploitation or trafficking.
“We would encourage everyone to be aware of the signs of this type of illegal activity and to report any suspicions to the police.”
How to spot the signs of cannabis production:
Windows permanently covered
Do you know of a house nearby where the curtains are drawn all day long? Are the windows blacked out with panelling or sheeting? Are there chinks of bright light showing from the edges of the window covering? Is there something they don’t want you to see? This could be a sign that there are bright artificial lights (required for cultivation) glowing inside, often coming on during the night on a timer. Young plants need around 12 hours of artificial light each day. Do the lights turn on and off at exactly the same times each day? Sometimes the room at the front of the house is left open and ‘set up’ to give the pretence of normality.
High levels of condensation
Are the windows always misted up? The condensation may well be due to inside having been turned into a makeshift greenhouse. For the best plant growth, cannabis needs an atmosphere similar to a greenhouse and this can cause a lot of condensation.
Sense of smell
A cannabis crop takes about three months to produce. The young plants have a faint smell, which may not reach the exterior of the house, but during the final four weeks the flowers/buds start to grow and the plants will smell intensely. It is a distinctive sweet, sickly aroma.
Lots of visitors
In some cases there will be a person living at the house to look after the grow. If they are ‘living-in’ permanently, they will barely be seen. If they are tending to more than one site they will come, tend to the plants and leave again, often in the early hours or at night. They won’t be sociable neighbours, they will want to keep a low profile. They will be worried about security, as this crop is valuable.
Do the visitors come and go frequently, often staying for short periods of time and at odd hours of the day? Are there new faces/vehicles turning up each time? Do they have large amounts of rubbish, including compost bags? Have you seen equipment being moved into the house (cannabis grows require significant amounts of ventilation and lighting)?
If you think there may be a cannabis farm, are you able to note visitors vehicle registration numbers without alerting them to your suspicions?
Rocketing electricity bills
The lights, dehumidifiers, hydroponic systems and heaters take a lot of electricity. Many farms have been found where drugs gangs have hacked into the electricity wires before the meter to that individual house and so bypassed having to pay for the electricity. This can increase fire hazard risks.
If you are a landlord who gets a copy of the bill, has it dropped or gone up suddenly? If so, your neighbourhood growers could have tapped into your supply and are charging you to power their drug operation. You should contact your supplier and the police immediately.
What happens when it snows?
Cannabis factories produce a lot of heat, which can cause tell-tale signs, especially in winter. When it snows, the roofs of cannabis farms can be obvious as the snow melts quickly, meaning it is probably the only house on the street without a snow-covered roof.
Similarly, do birds gather on the roof in cold weather, taking advantage of the heat that is being emitted?
Constant buzz of ventilation
If you can hear the constant noise of a fan, at all times of the day or night, chances are it could be acting as ventilation for the cannabis grow.
Reporting
If you suspect there is a cannabis factory next door, you should call 101 or 999 if a crime is in progress. You can also contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or go to crimestoppers-uk.org/campaigns-media/campaigns/report-cannabis-cultivation
