It was the city’s second warrant executed in a single day as police crackdown on organised crime.
During the raid on Wednesday, January 25, a number of police officers smashed through the door. After being caught red-handed at the property on Gulson Road, two men, believed to be Albanian nationals, were arrested and referred to immigration services.
Officers discovered approximately 90 plants inside the building, with the upstairs used to cultivate and harvest the drug. The haul is estimated to be worth £100,000 on the open market.
Last week, police seized more than £300,000 in drugs as part of a larger operation against organised crime groups that targeted a number of cannabis farms in Coventry. The majority of the seizures came from a raided property on Bramble Street, which was dubbed “one of the worst” officers had ever seen in the city, and contained £230,000 in drugs.
Because electricity was cut off in both properties, there was a serious fire risk that could have endangered the lives of residents and neighbours. According to a top police officer, the sophisticated setup could be ‘lethal.’
“We were there to ensure the electrics are safe,” a National Grid spokesman said. Unsafe connections caused by bypassed metres or overloaded sockets pose a fire hazard.
We strongly advise the public not to tamper with our equipment because the voltages we work with are lethal. Our engineers are trained to deal with risks and have the necessary safety equipment and network authorizations.
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As part of Neighbourhood Policing Week, we executed these warrants and shut down sophisticated drug operations,” said Coventry Police Inspector Alex Heeley. Cannabis cultivation and illegal use of its properties not only fuels the drug trade, but also contributes to additional crime that harms our communities.
“The setups to bypass electricity are dangerous and have led to fires at properties. This can endanger people’s lives. Vulnerable people can be exploited as well, and we will continue to target those suspected of running and organising drug factories.
This year, Coventry Police have discovered over 20 cannabis farms in the city. Almost half were discovered during burglaries in which gangs steal harvested crops from rival groups.
