Cannabis plants with an estimated annual yield of over £100 million have been seized from across Merseyside during the past 12 months.
Between 1st January and 31st December 2019, our specialist cannabis dismantling team attended and dismantled 182 cannabis farms and seized and destroyed 25,516 cannabis plants – with a potential annual yield of approximately £102,064,000.
In addition cropped cannabis, known as green vegetable matter (GVM) and valued at over £370,000, and over £520,000 worth of electrical items were seized and destroyed from cannabis farms.
It is estimated over £4.1m was also saved by electricity companies due to the disconnection of abstracted electricity.
The haul included one of the largest ever cannabis farms on Merseyside which was discovered in St Helens on Sunday 29 September.
Officers on routine patrol on Islands Brow at 9pm noticed a smell of cannabis.
Following enquiries, a cannabis farm was located in an industrial unit containing 2,885 plants, with an estimated annual yield in the region of £10 million.
Two men were charged with production of cannabis and will stand trial next year.
Cannabis dismantling team manager Matt Brown said: “Criminal groups involved in the growing of cannabis are often involved in other serious organised crime however with the help of our communities, we can stop these groups, who are only interested in making money, from turning houses into potential death traps.
“Nobody wants to live or work next door to these places 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.
“I’d encourage anyone who suspects that cannabis is being grown in their communities to get in touch, either directly to police or anonymously via Crimestoppers, and we will make your street safe.”