POLICE TAKE TO THE SKY TO UNCOVER CANNABIS FACTORIES

Ulster's increasing drug trade in home-grown cannabis is being foiled
from the sky by police.

The PSNI's hi-tech helicopter is being successfully used to spot
cannabis factories, according to Assistant Chief Constable Duncan
McCausland, reducing production of the drug and preventing it from
hitting the streets.

The chief has also warned that more cannabis plants are being grown
by unscrupulous drug dealers in the province because of difficulties
importing the drug into Northern Ireland.

He has revealed that, over the past 12 months, three cannabis
factories have been discovered in the greater Belfast area by the
helicopter's heat-seeking device.

He told how the helicopter was recently being used over the Lisburn
area to assist in a missing person search when the device picked up a
cannabis factory.

"If the helicopter is up and about it can very quickly locate large
heat areas, like a cannabis factory which uses heat lamps. If people
want to grow cannabis, then they should beware," Mr McCausland told
members of Belfast DPPthis week.

According to Mr McCausland, cannabis causes the biggest concern for
police, followed by amphetamines and cocaine.

He said the value of cannabis is higher in Northern Ireland than in
cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh because of difficulties smuggling
it in, thanks to major police operations.

Late last year, the PSNI made its largest seizure of cannabis to
date. Three-and-a-half tons of the drug worth UKP18m were found in
the back of a lorry-load of wooden doors in a warehouse on the Quarry
Heights Industrial Estate in Newtownards.

"We have made significant inroads into this particular activity and
have also been successful in disrupting cannabis factories growing
plants. We will continue to focus on this area. We also ask the
community that, if you see people growing strange plants in their
home, let us know."

The number of people arrested for drug offences in Ulster continues
to rise, indicating a rise in drug use. In Belfast alone, drug
offence arrests leapt by 50% over the past year from 331 to 506. The
number of people charged has risen by 24% from 304 to 378.

"There has been an increase in drug use, particularly use in a social
setting. It is something we are going to have to watch. If we have
detected more drugs, then use is increasing, particularly cannabis," he said.

Mr McCausland said the increase can be attributed to its
declassification to class C.

A trend across England, Scotland and Wales has seen people turn their
homes into cannabis factories, where cannabis is grown in almost
every room in the house. It is believed to be catching on in Northern Ireland.

Head of the PSNI's Crime Operations, Assistant Chief Constable Peter
Sheridan, has also warned of the rise of cocaine.

"Cannabis is rising in terms of home-grown cannabis but cocaine is
also on the rise," he said.

There are serious medical concerns over cannabis use. Research
suggests its use can trigger symptoms of psychosis which may continue
even after the drug use is stopped.