750,000 UKP CANNABIS HAUL IN 3 RAIDS

Three more rented houses were exposed as cannabis factories
yesterday as police tightened their grip on Reading's drug-dealing
world.

Some 900 plants - with a street value of up to UKP750,000 - were seized
during a raid in Cholmeley Road, Newtown, and two raids in Pell
Street, Katesgrove.

The raids followed a swoop on Tuesday morning when officers removed a
further 300 cannabis plants from a house in London Road.

Police are linking the three latest of raids, which began at 8pm on
Tuesday night, because the same Eastern Asian people have been seen at
all three addresses.

In each case the houses were rented out on short-term advanced payment
leases so the 'tenants' could carry out cannabis cultivation in peace,
police said.

Police believe the projects are financed by wealthy drug lords who
employ workers to carry out the day-to-day running of the factories.

Although no arrests had been made as the Evening Post went to press,
Chief Inspector Shaun Virtue, deputy commander for the Reading area,
said he expected more raids in the next few days.

He said: "On one premises we executed a warrant based on intelligence
gathered in the community and this led on to more intelligence so we
tackled them very quickly.

"In each house there were around 300 plants and you'd be looking at
between UKP150,000 and UKP250,000 each if the plants were properly cultivated.

"I'd be surprised if these were isolated raids, particularly as we've
found so many in the last few days. There is fairly big money required
to set one of these up and drug dealers would usually use more than
one premises.

"I would anticipate that we would continue to find them and close them
down.

"It's disappointing we haven't arrested anyone but I've no doubt it's
only a matter of time before we do.

"It's rented accommodation that is usually targeted.

"They pay money in advance and then fall behind with the rent and it
takes quite a long time for a landlord to get an eviction notice."

Ch Insp Virtue believes the recent publicity surrounding cannabis
factory raids has led to members of the public and landlords
recognising the signs and phoning police.

Typically, houses that have lights on 24 hours a day, have visitors
throughout the night and use ultra-violet rays, are potentially being
used to cultivate the drug.

"It's had quite a lot of publicity and I think people are becoming
more aware there is potential on certain premises," Ch Insp Virtue
said.

"It's usually a combination of strange signs. Some landlords have
become wise to it and we have told letting agents to look out for the
signs.

"Most of them are very careful."