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Police swoop on huge cannabis factory
The Liverpool Road Ashton drugs bust
POLICE have seized tens of thousands pounds worth of cannabis.
Hundreds of plants were discovered when officers forced their way into the house in Liverpool Road, Ashton, yesterday afternoon.
They were due to start taking away the plants, which were said to be in various states of growth, as soon as forensic investigations had concluded.
No arrests have so far been made, but a force spokesman said that inquiries were ongoing.
Graeme Pendlebury, area beat manager for Ashton, said: “As a result of intelligence, we executed a search warrant on a property in Ashton and found a very large cannabis farm, with several hundred cannabis plants at all stages of growth.
“There were five growing areas, ranging from a nursery in a cellar, to a fully harvested plant upstairs in a drying room.
“All the plants were being fed by sophisticated electronic hydroponic lighting. The stash was worth a lot of money – maybe tens of thousands of pounds.
“We definitely don’t tolerate this kind of drug use.”
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Comments
There are 24 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
peter franzen
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 02:30 PMI’m intrigued by the “sophisticated electronic hydroponic lighting”. It sounds like a “shocking” combination.
martyngibson
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:00 AMi remember when mars bars were 25p
pikeman
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 12:12 PM#19 no, it is not legal in holland it is decriminalized in other words tolerated. the govt at any time can instruct the police to arrest suppliers and users. the dutch along with other countries take a pragmatic approach to drugs rather than a political stance. this is where we in the UK could get a better outcome for middle society and the users of illegal drugs.
pikeman
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 12:08 PM#19 no, it is not legal in holland it is decriminalized in other words tolerated. the govt at any time can instruct the police to arrest suppliers and users. the dutch along with other countries take a pragmatic approach to drugs rather than a political stance. this is where we in the UK could get a better outcome for middle society and the users of illegal drugs.
lazerlee@live.co.uk
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:20 PMThis explains why all phones are switched off, nice one i only buy weed to medicate i guess i owe the police a thanks for the pain ive got to endore over the next few days.
jamesjoseph
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:57 PMCorrect me if i am wrong pikeman but didn't they legalise cannabis in holland a few years ago.I am not an expert on these matters but i seem to recall seeing a tv documentary a few years ago and the dutch seemed to regret legalising it as it hadn't led to a decrease in hard drugs but in fact the taking of hard drugs had increased.Personally i think once you start taking the easy option it will just encourage drug takers to move up to the next level.Where will morality and ethics end if we forever keep giving in to these cool cats who always advocate taking things to the limits, and then further.
Mistress Ploppy
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:42 AMFor those who are against legalising cannabis under any circumstances, and offering the opinion that it wouldn't work. We will only ever know this if we try it. Too often there is a missed opportunity to achieve something positive because somebody in a position to change things has simply said "It won't work". ............................................................................................................ The powers that be once tried something new in extending licensing hours, supposedly to avoid binge drinking just before closing time. This hasn't worked and binge drinking continues unabated so the experiment now ought to be reversed, but at least it was tried. ............................................................................................................ The same should be tried for legalising brothels, where there is the opportunity to control the trade, and remove prostitutes from hanging around on streets and also see the end of the pimps, but there is always somebody to stop this happening due to their misplaced moral values. Their moral values are not going to stop the trade, so what harm is there in a trail at legalising it?
0scar
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:31 AMI'd just like to point out how refreshing it is to see people engaging in a frank yet civil exchange of views in the comments section of this site instead things descending into the usual petty squabbles. This is surely what this facility was intended for.
JemmyH
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:32 PMThe police were parked outside the house all last night and were still there this morning. .... It's directly opposite Councillor Don Hodgkinson's house and he doesn't miss a catch. I wonder where the police got their information from?
DanFord
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 08:36 PMWigal, thanks for your last post, Yes I think all any of us can do is share and discuss our experiences and try to come up with ideas to improve things in the future. Trelawney, I can understand your reasoning about this, but there are other factors I believe. The example of The Netherlands is one I feel is relevant. Yes the Taboo on Cannabis has very much been destroyed there, but so has the element of it being a "forbidden fruit" and as such the appeal to youngsters has gone, so much that the underage use of Cannabis is quite remarkably low. see http:www.reuters.comarticle20091105idUSL5730185
DanFord
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 08:29 PMMr Half What you are saying was also said of Alcohol while it was prohibited. Now whilst there is still a small problem with smuggled Alcohol, it is mainly properly produced stuff smuggled from a low-tax area to a high-tax area. Before it was legalised a large proportion of the black market Alcohol was poisonous due to being produced under clandestine conditions. So you can see that legalisation shut down most of the black market networks, and those that remain trade in much healthier goods than before. What's not to like about legalisation? My interest in stories connected to Cannabis...... simple, to correct mistakes, lies and misapprehensions.
Trelawney
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 07:37 PMPart of growing up is to see what you can get away with, all generations have done it. Remove a taboo and youth will go to the next stage. I was at that age in the 60's and drinking under age was as far as anyone really was prepared to go. Remove the taboo on cannabis and where is next? ...........Also there is much written about the long term effects of this drug,please let us know what your qualifications are. If you can handle cannabis or alcohol does not mean you should blind yourself to the bigger picture. .........It is easy "to let the genie out of the bottle", it is almost impossible to put it back when the damage has been done..................To say the war on drugs is lost and we should legalise it, what do we legalise next, rape and pillage or racism? If that comment seems stupid as Basil Fawlty said to the Germans, "You started it"
half
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 07:11 PMDan ford, head of CLEAR ‘Comment Warriors’ Campaign’. I'm not so sure that there would be such a small blackmarket as you suggest if pot was made legal and taxed. All the pathways are already set up for dealers and they will always be able to under cut the taxman. Look at illegal booze and the risks involved, yet people still buy it. Could you also point out your interest in posting on this story and other stories that deal with pot.
pikeman
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 06:52 PMits not possible for the UK or any other western country to make cannabis legal due to a legal contract the USA instigated. the power to legalise is held by the yanks. all we can do is decriminalise cannabis. read your history chaps!
Wigal
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 06:00 PMDanFord, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. That must have been horrible for you. I take my comment back in that case, clearly I'm wrong. I think we're both just speaking from experience here. It's just very unfortunate that you had to have such a terrible one.
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