Five arrested in cannabis farm clampdown

Cannabis farm

Five people from across the Rochdale borough have been arrested as part of ongoing police work to tackle cannabis farms.

The arrests came after warrants were executed at six addresses in Heywood, Middleton, Newhey and Milkstone and Deeplish, last week.

Around 140 plants were recovered from four properties and eight bags of cannabis valued at £2,200 were recovered from the other two addresses.

Chief Inspector Mark Bell of Greater Manchester Police’s Rochdale Division said: “There appears to be a belief in some quarters that growing cannabis is allowed, and we need to stamp this out.

“Cannabis is still an illegal drug in this country and growing it is an offence – only last year an offender from Rochdale was sentenced to 16 months for this crime.

“Criminals need to understand that we will prosecute them at every opportunity if they are involved in either cultivating or dealing this drug.”

Four of those arrested were bailed pending further enquiries and one was cautioned.