Force step up cannabis farm fight

A cannabis factory uncovered by Northern Constabulary

A police force has set up a team tasked with analysing evidence gathered from cannabis farms as it ramps up efforts to combat production of the drug.

Northern Constabulary said its officers would also liaise with other forces.

Cannabis cultivation has been detected in houses in Dornoch, Fearn, Nairn, Milton of Leys and Conon Bridge.

Police have appealed to the public to be vigilant of suspicious activity and said houses in remote and urban areas had been involved.

Det Ch Insp Peter MacPhee said criminals were renting detached properties, usually paying the lease in cash.

He said: "Landlords or letting agents should check premises regularly.

"I would also appeal to neighbours of leased premises or postmen or anyone delivering services to be vigilant.

"There are a number of factors to look out for. Additionally, I cannot over emphasise the risks of fire to residential properties that have been turned into cannabis factories."

CANNABIS CULTIVATION Northern Constabulary have released a list of tell-tale signs of a cannabis farm at a property. They include: Windows are permanently covered from the inside Visits to the premises occur at unusual times of the day or night The cannabis or by-products such as used fertiliser will be removed in black bin bags or laundry bags There may be a vent protruding through the roof or a rear window

The senior officer added: "The people involved in these crimes target properties which are isolated or are in new schemes or estates, where neighbours do not know each other and their activities can go unnoticed."

Last week, a court heard how two men caught with cannabis plants worth almost £225,000 were betrayed by getting a huge consignment of compost.

Hundreds of bags arrived at Dufftown, Moray, and police were alerted.

Chaun Yap, 26, and Fang Zheng, 43, admitted being concerned in drug production. Sentence was deferred.

Judge Lord Brailsford said: "Someone had 360 bags of compost delivered to a residential property? Bit of a giveaway, isn't it?"

Illegal immigrants Yap, from Malaysia and Zheng, from China, admitted cultivating cannabis at Church Street, Dufftown, in March this year.

After being alerted of local concerns about the compost, the High Court in Perth heard Grampian Police discovered a "large-scale cannabis cultivation" of 497 cannabis plants growing in a bedroom.

Zheng told police he had been watering and feeding the plants and had been told by a gang member it was "expensive grass".