Major Cannabis Farm Uncovered In Everton

Police in Everton have uncovered "one of the biggest cannabis farms ever discovered in Merseyside".

It is understood that officers on patrol on Thursday noticed a "strong smell of cannabis" coming from Candia Tower block on Jason Street. Officers then noticed a number of covered windows on the fifth floor of the tower block.

Police said that an investigation uncovered cannabis plants growing in three flats, filling the living areas, bedrooms and bathrooms of each.

Police also arrested four men, found hiding among the plants in one of the flats.

Further searches of the high rise led to cannabis plants being found grown in five other flats on the sixth and twelfth floors.

Specialists from the force's cannabis dismantling team are today starting the process of counting the plants and seizing evidence from what detectives are describing as a sophisticated and industrial-scale criminal set-up.

Detective Sergeant Paul Jones, from Liverpool CID, said: "This is an elaborate cannabis farm spread across eight separate flats with almost every room full of cannabis farms. There is in excess of 2,000 thousand plants in total which would make it one of the biggest cannabis farm ever discovered here in Merseyside. 

"The patrol officers who sniffed this farm out and followed up on their suspicions are extremely pleased as we are, and detectives are now interviewing four men we suspect of being involved in the running of this drugs factory. 

"It just goes to show how a suspicious smell can lead the police to uncover major criminal activity and I would urge the public to help us spot more of these farms by knowing what the signs of a cannabis farm are and how to report it. 

"Cannabis is not a harmless drug. It is pedalled by serious organised crime groups and is extremely potent which causes damage to users, especially young people. Cannabis farms also pose a serious risk to other residents as they can become house fires due to the reckless way criminals tamper with the electricity to avoid detection. 

"It is in everyone's interests to help the police put these drugs farms out of businesses and this discovery shows how farms can be hidden right in the very heart of our communities."

(MH/JP)