MORE than 400 cannabis plants have been seized during a raid at a Suffolk house.

Laurence Cawley

MORE than 400 cannabis plants have been seized during a raid at a Suffolk house.

Police today described the property in The Street, Cavenham, near Bury St Edmunds, as a “cannabis factory” and told how they had seized plants and growing equipment after they were tipped off by the landlord.

The investigation is still ongoing.

Forest Heath's District Commander, Acting Chief Inspector Derek Wilding, said: “This factory was discovered by the landlord of the property, and factories are also often detected after suspicions are raised by members of the local community.

“We are appealing for everyone's help in cracking down on this illegal practice.

“These premises are a danger not only because the drugs that are grown will then be sold on our streets, but also because the premises themselves can potentially be a hazard. It is often the case that the electricity supply has been tapped into by these criminals, with exposed wiring to bypass the meter. In this case the energy company has told us it was one of the most dangerous factories they have seen, and had the potential to set light to the property and neighbouring houses.”

Suffolk police is appealing for anyone who suspects a cannabis factory has been set up in their community to get in touch immediately.

Possible signs of a cannabis factory, the police state, include permanently covered windows, visits to a home at unusual times of day and night, a vent protruding through the roof or a rear window, pungent smells, cooling fan noise and large numbers of soil and pots in the back garden.

Landlords are also advised to make regular checks of their properties. A/Ch Insp Wilding said: “Many of these criminals are renting a property and then turning them into cannabis factories and in the process are causing thousands of pounds of damage and putting lives at risk. If you are offered more than the rental price for the property, then it probably is too good to be true.”

Anyone with any information about this or any other cannabis factory should call Suffolk police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.