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| Man charged over cannabis plants | Man charged over cannabis plants |
| (1 day later) | |
| A 35-year-old man has been arrested in Fife following the discovery of cannabis plants worth more than £140,000. | A 35-year-old man has been arrested in Fife following the discovery of cannabis plants worth more than £140,000. |
| Ting Yen Chen appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on four drug charges including producing a controlled drug, and intent to supply. | Ting Yen Chen appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on four drug charges including producing a controlled drug, and intent to supply. |
| He made no plea and was remanded in custody. | He made no plea and was remanded in custody. |
| The arrest was linked to an operation across Central Scotland where £3m worth of cannabis plants were recovered. | The arrest was linked to an operation across Central Scotland where £3m worth of cannabis plants were recovered. |
| 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. |
| Cannabis factories | 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. |
| 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. |
| Det Ch Supt Stephen Whitelock, director of intelligence for Strathclyde Police, said: "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. | Det Ch Supt Stephen Whitelock, director of intelligence for Strathclyde Police, said: "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 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." |
| Fire risk | Fire risk |
| 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 run high-powered lamps. | |
| 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%. |
| 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. |