A week of action targeting cannabis farms in Rotherham has resulted in approximately ยฃ1,000,000 worth of drugs being seized and several people arrested
Following the gathering of local intelligence, officers from all three Rotherham Neighbourhood Policing Teams, as well as members of the districtโs Fortify team, executed 12 search warrants across the borough.
Notable raids included a factory containing 170 plants on Fitzwilliam Road, Eastwood, and a farm worth ยฃ150,000 in Herringthorpe Valley Road, Herringthorpe.
Rotherham Central NPT Inspector John Crapper said: โThese results are part of Operation Grow โ our ongoing work to tackle cannabis grows in Rotherham. Drugs have no place in our communities and cannabis farms can significantly impact the quality of life for residents and businesses.
โThese grows are often linked to organised crime and the exploitation of vulnerable people who are forced to mind the farms on behalf of gangs. As part of this operation, we have gained valuable intelligence about those facilitating these enterprises.โ
In total, approximately 1,000 cannabis plants were seized. It is estimated that each plant is worth ยฃ1,000, with the total value of the plants thought to be around ยฃ1,000,000.
During the operation, which was run between 6 โ 13 December, 10 people were arrested for a range of offences, including the cultivation of cannabis, immigration offences and abstracting electricity.
Insp Crapper added: โI would urge the public to report any concerns to us. Remember to look out for the signs that a property is potentially being used for illegal activity.โ
