Cannabis plants worth over £200,000 seized following Bedford warrant

Cannabis plants worth more than £200,000 have been seized after a warrant targeting organised crime.

In the early hours of yesterday morning (Tuesday), officers executed a pre-planned warrant in Ashburnham Road, Bedford, as part of Bedfordshire Police’s specialist Operation Costello.

During the operation officers found a large cannabis factory containing around 270 cannabis plants, with a street value of around £224,000.

Detective Sergeant Tracey Joyce from Operation Costello said: “Growing and selling cannabis is not only illegal, but can be a means of growing and funding different criminal enterprises.

“Operation Costello is committed to taking down these criminal networks by cutting them down from the root.

“Illegal drug activity not only has a detrimental effect on local communities, but also on vulnerable individuals within society, who may be coerced, forced or exploited into carrying out illegal activities on behalf of organised crime gangs.

“This warrant was intelligence-led and would not have been a success had it not been for the public who come forward with information, so that we can take the correct course of action and disrupt the criminal gangs which cause so much misery.”

A man in his 30s from Bedford has subsequently been charged with cannabis cultivation. 

The charity Crimestoppers estimates that 94 per cent of cannabis farms are in domestic homes.

There are some key signs to spot that a home near you is being used as a cannabis factory:

• A powerful distinctive sweet, sickly aroma
• Frequent visitors throughout the day and night
• Blacked out windows
• Chinks of bright light throughout the night
• Birds gathering on the roof, particularly in cold weather
• In winter, snow melting unusually quickly on the roof
• High levels of condensation on windows
• Noise from fans
• Large amounts of rubbish, including compost bags
• Electricity meter being tampered with/altered and new cabling, sometimes leading to street lighting

Anyone with concerns about drug dealing can report it to police online or by calling 101.

Alternatively, report information to Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111 or the website.