Cannabis farms with thousands of plants have been raided and shut down by Merseyside Police this year.
Growing cannabis plants is illegal but they also pose a danger to the community, as extracting electricity increases the risk of fire and flooding to residents living nearby, especially when criminals change the wiring and overload plugs.
Here we've listed some of the biggest cannabis farms that have been uncovered by detectives in 2022. One of the biggest discoveries of the year was in Birkenhead, when police found 2,500 cannabis plants after raiding a warehouse on Lorn Street on November 17.
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While other finds include hundreds of plants in a Walton Vale shop and thousands in a former Southport care home. Some of the raids have lead to arrests and even charges.
Matt Brown, head of our Cannabis Dismantling Team said: “With every cannabis farm that we seize, it makes the local community a safer place from the serious and organised criminals that set the farms up and exploit vulnerable people.
“The dangers posed by growing cannabis farms by extracting electricity illegally also poses a serious dangerous risk of fire and flooding to residents living nearby, especially when criminals overload plugs.
“If you spot any signs that cannabis is being grown near where you live and work please let us know so that we can continue to take action. Any information helps keep residents safe and the work we do, so make us aware and we will investigate.”
2,000 plants spread over 13 rooms in warehouse
In Birkenhead a huge cannabis farm with more than 2,000 plants spread over 13 rooms was discovered after police raided a warehouse. On Thursday, July 7, police carried out a targeted raid at a warehouse on Thomas Street in Birkenhead.
Once inside officers found the plants and equipment spread over a number of rooms. There were three arrests including one man at the scene and a further two were put in cuffs after a number of enquiries.
Manh Cuong Nguyen, 33, of no fixed abode, has been charged with production of a controlled Class B drug. Tung Lam Nguyen, 19, of no fixed abode, has been charged with production of a controlled Class B drug.
Tuan Van Cao, 30, of no fixed abode, has been charged with production of a controlled Class B drug. All three appeared in court, where the case was adjourned for mention in January 2023 and then trial on January, 23, 2023. The premises was also made safe by the Cannabis Dismantling Team (CDT) and enquiries are ongoing.
Thousands of plants in a derelict Knowsley building
A huge cannabis farm with around 2,000 plants was discovered in a derelict building On March 3. Merseyside Police received a tip off that drugs were being grown in a derelict building on Charley Wood Road, Knowsley, and went to investigate.
During a raid they found thousands of cannabis plants. It took officers around four days to clear out the "established" farm.
No arrests have been made, but Inspector Dave Morgan said he is "confident" police will track the owners down. He said: "This is a significant find for us and officers have been busy clearing the location over the weekend."
1,277 cannabis plants hidden in former Southport care home
A cannabis farm was found spread across 17 rooms of a former care home. Merseyside Police said the cannabis farm busted by officers on Alexandra Road was "one of the largest and most complex cannabis farms found in recent years in Southport."
The police raid took place at the former care home on May 19 and police are now trying to track down the people responsible. Officers found 1,277 cannabis plants spread across 17 rooms along with equipment which has been taken for destruction.
Matt Brown, head of the Merseyside Police Cannabis Dismantling Team said: "Thanks to the vigilance of our officers, an extremely large cannabis farm is no longer putting the community in Southport at risk of fire and flood, as well as violence and criminal exploitation. We are now carrying out extensive enquiries to find those responsible."
Two cannabis farms found during raids
Police officers smashed through the door of a cannabis farm as part of a multi-force day of action targeting serious and organised crime on October 17. Merseyside Police officers targeted a terraced house in the Rice Lane area, during the warrant an Albanian man, aged 28, was arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis after 400 plants over four rooms were uncovered by officers.
Later that morning officers carried out another warrant in Rocky Lane, Childwall recovering another 300 cannabis plants. Two men, aged 34 and 38, were arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis.
Further arrests were made at other locations for possession of controlled drugs and money laundering. All arrested people were taken to police stations across Merseyside for questioning. Police since confirmed that three people who were arrested have been charged with production of a controlled drug and will appear at Liverpool Crown Court early next year, 2023.
Three cannabis farms after raids in the Bootle
Officers from Merseyside Police raided three separate cannabis farms on Thursday, April 21. Merseyside Police uncovered two cannabis farms within 10 minutes on Wadham Road in Bootle.
At the first police gained entry and located a cannabis farm across three floors containing around 200 plants. Officers then attended another address on the same road after suspecting there to be another farm.
After forcing entry officers found a second, larger farm of around 300 plants spread across three floors. Officers from Operation Pelican later raided a third property in the area following an overwhelming smell of cannabis. After gaining entry police found another large farm located across four rooms containing over 100 plants.
More than 300 plants found in Walton Vale shop
A cannabis farm was in a shop on Walton Vale. Merseyside Police carried out a raid at the Quang Loan supermarket on Monday, October 10. While carrying out the warrant at the business, officers found more than 300 cannabis plants along with growing equipment.
A total of 387 plants were discovered, spread across three rooms. Police confirmed that a 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis and abstracting electricity. The man has been released on conditional bail as enquiries continue. The electricity meter had also been abstracted and was made safe by Scottish Power.
At the time of publication, there was no update on the arrest of the 33-year-old man from Merseyside police.
Farm spanned five rooms of Fazakerley house
Police shut down a large cannabis farm on Wednesday, January 5, Officers raided a home on Sherwood's Lane, Fazakerley, and found a cannabis farm in production.
Detectives seized 189 plants at the address. The cannabis farm was spread across five rooms of the property and the Cannabis Dismantling Team have since made the address safe.
Matt Brown, head of the Cannabis Dismantling Team said: "Thanks to our officers, a large cannabis farm is no longer putting the community at risk of fire and flood, as well as violence and criminal exploitation. No law abiding person wants to live next-door to such death-traps and we do all we can to make the streets safer."
More than 200 plants were found in Walton house
Reports from concerned locals helped police locate a huge cannabis farm with more than 200 plants in February 2022. The huge cannabis farm was found by Merseyside Police in Blackbrook Close, Walton.
Officers from Merseyside Police North wrote on social media to thank the efforts of locals who reported the address off Rice Lane. Images released by Merseyside Police show hundreds of plants separately potted nearing the end of their growth.
Above the plants, industrial air conditioning units and lights can be seen. Officers called the findings of the raid on the address a "great result".
Officer attacked after finding massive cannabis farm
A police officer was attacked attempting to arrest someone when discovering a cannabis farm. Officers following a wanted man were led to a house at the junction of Ince Avenue and Cherry Lane, Walton. After forcing entry into the house, they found a cannabis farm, at around 3.15pm on Tuesday, December 6.
Merseyside police said the farm spread across two rooms, with 172 plants. Further bags of cannabis were also found at the property.
A 27-year-old man, from Seaforth, was arrested on suspicion of cannabis production; possession of cannabis; and assault of an emergency worker. He has also been arrested for failing to appear at court in connection with drug supply and driving offences. He has been released under investigation.
A 21-year-old man, from Waterloo, was arrested on suspicion of cannabis production and possession with intent to supply cannabis and has been released on conditional bail pending further enquiries. A 30-year-old man, from Walton, was arrested on suspicion of cannabis production and abstracting electricity. He has been released under investigation.
A 31-year-old woman, from Walton, was arrested on suspicion of cannabis production and abstracting electricity. She has been released under investigation.
Huge 'death trap' cannabis farm in Old Swan
The farm, that consisted of 131 plants, was found spread across four rooms at a house on Wharncliffe Road. After making the discovery, officer Matthew Northley, from Merseyside Police's cannabis dismantling team said such farms are a 'death-trap' and cause floods and fire.
Police raided the home, at around 5.50pm, on Saturday, June 11, and seized all the plants. Matthew Northey said: "Keep your eyes, ears and noses open to the signs that cannabis is being grown where you live and work and we will keep taking action. All information helps the work we do, so make us aware and we'll be there."
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