This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6385839.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Police uncover cannabis factories | Police uncover cannabis factories |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Cannabis plants with a street value of up to £3m have been seized during raids across the west of Scotland. | Cannabis plants with a street value of up to £3m have been seized during raids across the west of Scotland. |
| More than 20 houses, many thought to be luxury three and four-bedroomed homes, were being used as cannabis factories. | More than 20 houses, many thought to be luxury three and four-bedroomed homes, were being used as cannabis factories. |
| Up to 5,000 plants were seized from the properties by police and more than a dozen people were arrested during Operation League. | Up to 5,000 plants were seized from the properties by police and more than a dozen people were arrested during Operation League. |
| Strathclyde Police said the factories were believed to be connected to organised crime. | Strathclyde Police said the factories were believed to be connected to organised crime. |
| A number of the people arrested were Vietnamese and Chinese. | A number of the people arrested were Vietnamese and Chinese. |
| The operation began in November 2006, with the most recent raids being carried out on Wednesday and Thursday in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow. | The operation began in November 2006, with the most recent raids being carried out on Wednesday and Thursday in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow. |
| It is understood criminals are paying cash to rent the properties and it may be the project of one professional group. | It is understood criminals are paying cash to rent the properties and it may be the project of one professional group. |
| 'Vast profits' | 'Vast profits' |
| Det Ch Supt Stephen Whitelock, director of intelligence for Strathclyde Police, said: "These are sophisticated factories involving organised crime. | Det Ch Supt Stephen Whitelock, director of intelligence for Strathclyde Police, said: "These are sophisticated factories involving organised crime. |
| "We are talking about good quality houses, three and four-bedroomed detached homes which have been converted into factories and are growing high-grade cannabis. | "We are talking about good quality houses, three and four-bedroomed detached homes which have been converted into factories and are growing high-grade cannabis. |
| There is no doubt that the large scale cultivation of cannabis has strong links to other forms of serious organised crime Det Ch Supt Stephen Ward | There is no doubt that the large scale cultivation of cannabis has strong links to other forms of serious organised crime Det Ch Supt Stephen Ward |
| "There is a real fire hazard here and it's important that we put out a very strong message of the dangers that these factories pose. | "There is a real fire hazard here and it's important that we put out a very strong message of the dangers that these factories pose. |
| "We are not talking about 10 or 12 plants in the house. There are entire homes covered in plants with 30 or 40 to every room." | "We are not talking about 10 or 12 plants in the house. There are entire homes covered in plants with 30 or 40 to every room." |
| It is believed that the factories are in homes rented from legitimate leasing agencies and landlords, with some valued at about £750,000. | It is believed that the factories are in homes rented from legitimate leasing agencies and landlords, with some valued at about £750,000. |
| These domestic factories need large amounts of heat and many electrical systems in these homes have been bypassed to eliminate high-powered lamps from that system. | |
| Police said in the past 10 years, the volume of cannabis grown in the United Kingdom had risen from 10% to 60%. | Police said in the past 10 years, the volume of cannabis grown in the United Kingdom had risen from 10% to 60%. |
| Det Ch Supt Stephen Ward, of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency said: "We are well aware that cannabis is increasingly a commodity being trafficked by organised crime groups for vast profits. | Det Ch Supt Stephen Ward, of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency said: "We are well aware that cannabis is increasingly a commodity being trafficked by organised crime groups for vast profits. |
| "There is no doubt that the large scale cultivation of cannabis has strong links to other forms of serious organised crime." | "There is no doubt that the large scale cultivation of cannabis has strong links to other forms of serious organised crime." |
| Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service urged members of the public and other agencies to be vigilant as the criminal activity in the factories had already led to two fires. | Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service urged members of the public and other agencies to be vigilant as the criminal activity in the factories had already led to two fires. |