Police have arrested two men following the discovery of a cannabis farm with around 100 plants in Anfield.
Officers executed a Misuse of Drugs Act warrant at a property on Suburban Road at around 2.25pm on Thursday and located a cannabis factory inside.
While officers were searching the premises they found two men under the floorboards.
An 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old male were arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis and were taken to a police station to be interviewed.
A number of rooms in the property had been adapted for the growing of cannabis, and with a total of 100 plants growing, mind and more were found to have been cropped.
The electricity was also found to have been illegally bypassed.
Officers cordoned off the scene to recover the cannabis, estimated to be worth around £400,000 per year, and forensically examine the scene.
Barrie Murphy, Detective Constable from Merseyside Police, said: “The cannabis found would have an estimated annual yield of around £400,000.
“Thankfully officers have taken action and prevented criminals from making any further financial gain from this property.
“Cannabis cultivation by criminal gangs can cause serious harm in our communities.
“Criminal groups involved in the cultivation of cannabis are usually involved in other serious organised crime and they often rent industrial properties such as this.
“The growing of cannabis also brings dangers to neighbouring properties because cannabis farms are a serious fire risk.
“The people who set up these farms often tamper with the electricity meters to steal electricity, and there will generally be a number of hot lamps hooked to overloaded electricity sockets as well as an extensive watering system.
“Our communities can help us stop these groups, who are only interested in making money, from turning houses and flats into potential death traps.
“Nobody wants to live next door to these houses and we would ask that if you believe someone is using a property for this purpose, please tell us so we can take positive action and find those responsible for setting them up.”
Some of the signs that cannabis is being grown are:
• Strange smells and sounds
• Frequent and varied visitors to a property, often at unusual times
• Gardening equipment being taken into a property, such as plant pots, fertiliser, fans and industrial lighting
• Windows are sealed and covered or the curtains are permanently closed
• Heat from an adjoining property
• Birds gathering on a roof in cold weather
• Individually these activities may seem commonplace, however, together may indicate something more sinister
Anyone with any information can call police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.