Three arrested over mass cannabis production

More than £450,000 worth of cannabis has been seized in connection with mass cannabis production following a series of warrants across Luton.

The warrants in Luton and Bedford this week led to three arrests; a man in his 40s, the other in his 30s and a 19-year-old, all of whom were arrested on suspicion of production of a controlled drug of Class B.

UK Power Network were called to the addresses to ensure electricity supply at the properties was safe before police could seize the plants.

At one of the addresses a botched electricity cable was found joined under floorboards to a neighbouring property, who would have been footing the electricity bill for the factory. 

Last month, three arrests were also made when a row of cannabis factories were discovered in Summerfield Road, Luton. 

Officers on patrol had suspicions about possible cannabis production in the area and discovered three adjoining properties being used to harvest cannabis.

Three men in their 20s were all arrested and charged with production of a controlled drug of Class B and will appear at Luton Crown Court towards the end of this month.

During the warrants, police seized a total of 477 cannabis plants with the highest estimated street value total of £455,510, according to expert police drug witnesses.

Detective Chief Inspector James Panter from Bedfordshire Police, leading investigations into serious and organised crime across the county, said: "We have a unique cannabis cultivation problem in our county due to our transport links, which makes it easy for criminal gangs to move and sell their products across the country.

"These warrants are another success story in our efforts to pinpoint cannabis factories which would otherwise go unnoticed. These factories hide in plain sight, they look like homes, abandoned pubs, or even warehouses – but could pose all sorts of risks to the community around them, from fires and electricity problems through to gang violence.

"We will go after these factories and bring them down alongside those who front these criminal enterprises."