Double swoop on drug farm

OFFICERS raid one of the properties in Higginshaw

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Police seize cannabis worth £100,000

DEFIANT drug dealers returned to a Werneth house to set up a new cannabis farm — only nine months after police raided it and cleared out 300 plants.

Drug and neighbourhood officers broke into the end terrace in St John’s Street at 11.30am yesterday and found a man and woman cowering in a shower.

The power supply had been by-passed by crude electric wiring from a fuse box which could have been lethal.

All the windows and doors were sealed and heat lamps installed to nurture the plants. The couple were arrested and a red Chrysler Neon car impounded.

Four rooms were set up with 300 plants worth £80,000 and the find brings the total value of cannabis plants seized in Oldham in three days to more than £100,000.

The police team, led by Sgt Rob Howarth from the Operational Support Unit, and Oldham West Neighbourhood Sgt Trevor Harrison, also found the kitchen was being converted to a fifth cultivation room.

Soil, plant pots, shades and a new power circuit had all been set up.

Sgt Harrison, who was with Werneth neighbourhood officer, PC Zahir Hussain, said: “We acted on information from the local community.

“The fuse box had live wires sticking out and the electricity posed a major fire danger not just to this house.”

Sgt Howarth added: “It was a professional set up, and the plants were all at different stages of cultivation.

“We seized a similar amount of plants from here in March last year, but there were no residents in at the time.”

Plants worth £20,000 were also found at two homes in Mortimer Street, Higginshaw, when police from the Operation Support Unit and the Divisional Task Force swooped at 8am on Saturday.

In one they discovered plants worth about £20,000, £300 of cannabis resin, and suspected stolen electrical goods including computers, monitors and TVs.

A 31-year-old man was arrested for producing cannabis and bailed until March 17.

In the second, they found equipment and herbal cannabis worth about £500.

Two men aged 40 and 19 were arrested for being concerned in the supply of Class C drugs and producing cannabis, and bailed until March 17.

The swoop was part of Operation Resolute, launched to combat burglary, robbery and vehicle crime in Oldham.

PC Kevin Rawcliffe said: “This was an excellent result and a great start to the New Year for police in Oldham.

“We have stopped thousands of pounds worth of cannabis from getting on to the streets, which is a great achievement.”

Anyone with information about cannabis production or drug-dealing should call Greater Manchester Police on 0161-872 5050 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.