Man charged over cannabis plants

This cannabis factory was found during one raid

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.

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.

More than 20 houses, many thought to be luxury three and four-bedroomed homes, were being used as 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.

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.

"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

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%.

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.