POLICE RAID HOMES IN 'SKUNKWEED' CRACKDOWN

THE suburban facade which hides an illegal drugs manufacturing
industry has been exposed by a police clampdown.

South Wales Police are among the forces involved in a nationwide
operation on cannabis plantations in homes over the next fortnight.
Police say neighbours in respectable neighbourhoods are often shocked
to find out they are living next door to a drugs factory.

A spokesman said, "They are not confined to run-down areas, they can
be in well-heeled estates."

Police in South Wales have already raided a number of cannabis
plantations hidden in houses this year.

In one case, a drugs gang had appointed a 16-year-old boy as
"caretaker" of a palatial four-bedroom house in Gorseinon, Swansea.
Inside, police found 77 cannabis plants in the master bedroom, 71 in
another bedroom, 41 in another room and nine plants each over 10ft
tall downstairs.

The boy was given a 12-month referral order at Swansea Youth Court.

In neighbouring Neath, a three bedroom semi-detached area in a "nice
area" was found to contain 500 cannabis plants. Police who raided the
house found insulating foil on the walls, ventilation pipes hanging
from the ceiling and a series of electric fans to control temperature.

In Wychtree Street, Morriston, suspicious neighbours led to a house
being raided and police found a hi-tech hydroponic system growing
cannabis plants worth UKP14,000.

A 42-year-old woman will be sentenced for her part in the cannabis
factory next month.

Across England and Wales, 17 police forces are taking part in the
operation which began yesterday.

Operation Keymer will focus on properties being used to produce large
quantities of "skunkweed", a potent and potentially dangerous form of
cannabis. Skunk contains far higher quantities of the chemical THC
than "herbal" or "resin" cannabis making skunk users considerably
more vulnerable to its negative effects.

A police spokesman added,"Not only is the money made from cannabis
cultivation ploughed back into serious crime, but the bypassing of
the electricity needed to run the factories causes risk of fire and
electrocution and they have already caused several devastating fires.

"Members of the public can assist the police in this operation by
looking out for the tell-tale signs of cannabis cultivation on their
street. Should a member of the public grow suspicious of a property,
they should not approach the property, but call the police first."

Currently around 60% of cannabis found in the UK is "skunk" that is
mainly grown in the UK rather than being imported. This is a large
increase on the quantities found up until 2004.

In the mid-90s only 10% of cannabis in the UK was skunk, at most.

Detective Inspector Neil Hutchison, of the Metropolitan Police, said
cannabis production was a serious crime with damaging consequences.

"Firstly, skunk is very strong," he said. "There is medical evidence
to suggest that it can be damaging to mental health.

"Secondly, it is linked to organised criminality and if organised
criminals are making large amounts of money that is bad for
everybody, not least because they often invest it in other forms of
criminality, ie Class A drugs.

"Thirdly, it is linked to people trafficking, because a lot of people
who grow the cannabis are illegal immigrants who are brought into
this country to do that.

"Fourthly, it is a public safety hazard. They tap into the
electricity cable prior to it getting to the meter. The properties
are festooned with wires and electrical boxes. They are a hazard,
they cause fires.

"Cannabis production is a serious crime. The reduction of the
classification of possession (from B to C) does not in any way affect
how seriously we take the cultivation of the drug."

Allan Gibson, the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead on
cannabis cultivation, said the "increasing problem must be nipped in the bud".