Cannabis farm in shop cellar (Castleton)

Photo: Rochdale Online photographer

Uncovered: Three sacks full of cannabis found in the old shop last night

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EXCLUSIVE

A sophisticated cannabis farm has been uncovered in a former bike shop in Castleton.

Police were called out to the derelict building on Manchester Road last night (Thursday 21 May), after reports of a “suspicious smell” which turned out to be three sacks full of plants, being maintained by a large lighting system in the cellar of the building.

Thousands of pounds worth of equipment has been seized, including transformers, filters, and hydroponic growing equipment, which allows plants to grow indoors without soil.

Officers believe there were a lot more plants which have already been harvested, an exact amount is unknown. There were 60 plants seized from yesterday’s discovery.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “Officers went to the scene and on entering the property found a cannabis farm consisting of about 60 plants”.

Inquiries are continuing and anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 872 5050.

Residential properties are often developed into cannabis factories and there are often distinctive signs that people can look out for which include:

• People arriving and leaving properties at random times of the day and night.
  A pungent aroma in the area
• Large amounts of electrical wiring, light fittings, chemicals or compost being delivered to residential premises
• Blacked out windows or bright lights coming from a number of windows all night long
• Landlords and letting agents can also play a key role in helping police identify suspects as cannabis farming is mostly carried out in rented properties.
• The damage they can leave behind can cost tens of thousands of pounds to put right, which is not covered by insurance
• Electricity illegally extracted by the growers to power the lights and fans can total tens of thousands of pounds and the utilities companies will seek to recover the cost from landlords
• The wiring installed by the growers has led to large house fires, on occasions completely destroying the property