Police seize over 1,000 cannabis plants in Devon and Cornwall

Police have seized over 1,190 cannabis plants in Devon and Cornwall with an estimated street value of over £675,000.

Devon and Cornwall Police executed twenty warrants in the operation, four of which were in Exeter and another in Torquay.

The warrants were part of a national focus on the disruption of cannabis cultivation, which has been running alongside a regional focus on drugs and modern-day slavery.

The most recent raid on 28 June saw officers seize 416 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of between £116,480 and £349,440 from a disused building on Torwood Street in Torquay.

416 cannabis plants were seized in the Torquay raid (Devon and Cornwall Police)

Det Supt Alex Doughty said: "Using the element of surprise, officers forced entry into the building early last Wednesday morning.

"Thanks to the use of Torbay Council CCTV, the offender was located hiding on the roof. He was arrested and taken into police custody and subsequently charged.

"We were informed of the suspected grow through intelligence we received from the public - such information is vital and we rely on our communities to report suspicious activity to us."

How to spot a cannabis factory

Police have advised the public on how to spot a cannabis factory in their area.

Possible signs include:

• Frequent visitors at unsociable hours;
• Blacked-out windows or condensation even when it is not cold outside;
• Bright lights in rooms throughout the night;
• A powerful, distinctive, sweet, sickly aroma and noise from fans;
• An excessive amount of plant pots, chemicals, fertilisers, and compost;
• Electricity meters being tampered with or altered and new cabling, sometimes leading to street lighting;
• Lots of work or deliveries of equipment to an address, particularly those associated with growing plants indoors without soil such as heaters and lighting.

To report any suspicious activity in your area, information can be reported to police here. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers.