INTERNATIONAL DRUG RINGS TARGETING NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

International drug rings are targeting Northamptonshire as part of a
national cannabis factory epidemic.

Two drug factories found in Corby this week bring the total
discovered across the county to 17 in the past nine months.

In the past three-and-a-half years a total of 58 such factories have
been found in Northamptonshire.

Officers believe the cannabis production plants found in Jay Close on
the Oakley Vale estate may have been abandoned after raids last month.

Detective Inspector Neil McMahon, of Northamptonshire Police, said
the rise in cannabis factory finds was largely due to activity by
international drug rings, as well as local criminals.

He said: "It's not a local problem, its a national problem.

"Houses are being rented and used short-term just to become cannabis factories.

"We have a very organised group of people who are treating the
country as an opportunity to use properties as drug factories. It has
got an international theme to it.

"The second ones are factories being set up by local criminal gangs."

Last month police closed down a sophisticated hydroponics set-up in
Spencer, Northampton, following information provided by residents,
while there have been a string of raids around the county this year.