100 CANNABIS FACTORIES BUSTED

THE full extent to which organised crime gangs will go to set up
and conceal cannabis factories can be revealed today.

Wales on Sunday understands that more than 100 cannabis factories have
been busted in Wales over the last year alone.

And that represents a dramatic increase on the previous 12 months as
gangs infiltrate quiet suburban areas to set up major drug dens.

Our investigation comes in the same week that 350 cannabis plants were
uncovered at a three-bedroomed rented terrace house that had been
converted into a large-scale dope factory in Newport.

Also this week, police in Swansea uncovered a similar facility that
was cultivating 150 plants following a tip-off from neighbours.

And in Cardiff two police community support officers sniffed out one
of the biggest cannabis factories ever seen in Cardiff, which was
growing UKP200,000 worth of the drug.

And that's the tip of the iceberg - our investigations can reveal that
some factories have been known to grow more than UKP300,000 worth of the
drug.

Detective Sergeant David Stroud from Gwent Police's Intelligence
Bureau said the problem was escalating throughout Wales.

He said: "There is so much money to be made in this by organised crime
groups.

"There has been a massive increase in Gwent but, nationally, it is a
growth industry because of the declassification of the drug."

Drug barons are using increasingly sophisticated technology to both
maximise the number of plants they can grow and stop the public from
finding out what they are doing.

"With all of these houses that have been converted to dens, they will
have a sophisticated hydroponic set-up in terms of the filters and
lighting they use," said DS Stroud.

"They will also have four-feet high extraction fans that get rid of
the smell so that the neighbours don't suspect what is going on. And
there will always be some form of irrigation, even if it's just a
hosepipe from the bath.

"Often we've found that mothballs scented with a smell of ammonium are
used in small containers by the letterbox which hide the smell of the
plant from passers-by - and the windows will normally be blacked out
as well.

"In the biggest cannabis factories, there will be plants on all levels
- - in the basement, on the first and second floor and in the attic.
We've recovered as many as 650 plants in one house."

And DS Stroud warned that such factories posed a huge risk to the
public because the owners often rewired the properties without any
regard for health and safety - which could lead to fires and, in
extreme cases, explosions.

He said: "In essence, to avoid detection, what is being done in a lot
of the cannabis factories is that they are bypassing gas and
electricity meters.

"As a result you have live energy and high voltages going into these
premises without any fusing. Often you've 300 amps coming through the
factory - and the average household plug is 13 amps.

"If there is any suggestion that there is a cannabis factory, because
of these dangers, we'll try to shut them down immediately for the
safety of the public. If it's a terraced house it can pose a
significant danger to the neighbours."

He added that it was the responsibility of landlords to check their
properties frequently - especially if they become suspicious of their
tenants.

"For the landlord, it's vital that they check their premises - because
these houses are being absolutely trashed. The people that run these
factories don't clean up before they leave and move on.

"When they are putting vents in for the filters they will literally
hack through the ceilings and the floors, and create foot-wide holes
with a chainsaw and an axe.

"And because of the heat and the moisture, the house becomes mouldy
and mildewy inside.

"In our experience the vast majority of the cannabis factories are in
rented accommodation.

"The person will go to the landlord and pay up to six months in
advance. Once the tenant has secured the house, it is set up into a
factory.

"But then when the landlord wants to come and inspect the house,
they'll give an excuse that they're shift workers or they're away, so
it'll be put off - and that's something that landlords should be aware
of."

Detective Superintendent Dave Bishop, South Wales Police's Head of
Serious Organised Crime, warned that more and more criminal gangs were
using Wales as their base.

He said: "Some of the houses and factories being used to cultivate
cannabis are being run by organised crime groups which are sometimes
from outside the force area. We are looking at all opportunities to
tackle this type of criminality, which research shows can lead to the
use of harder drugs in our communities."

He added that the residents living next door to such factories had a
crucial role to play - and urged all communities across Wales to be as
vigilant as possible.

He said: "We are constantly working within our communities to gather
intelligence. Many raids have been as a result of information received
from the public.

"I would urge everyone to be vigilant as to any suspicious activity in
our streets and neighbourhoods and to report these matters,
confidentially if needs be, to their local police or
Crimestoppers.

"We will continue to gather intelligence from our communities and
tackle those who are still engaged in this kind of drug activity."

A spokesman for the Welsh Assembly Government said they were committed
to helping the police tackle the escalating problem.

He said: "The Assembly Government recognises that cannabis factories
represent a crime that must be tackled if we are to make real progress
in dealing with substance misuse.

"We are committed to supporting the Police in their efforts to tackle
this crime."