Large cannabis grow discovered in Gainsborough
A significant cannabis cultivation operation has been uncovered on Bridge Street, Gainsborough, with over 1,200 cannabis plants discovered inside a property.
Officers attended the location after being alerted by Northern Powergrid on Tuesday 4 August and identified a large-scale cannabis grow spanning multiple premises. Officers discovered during their initial assessment that the main fuse box was melting due to the strain being placed on the electrical system and that electricity had been illegally abstracted to power the operation, creating a serious risk to neighbouring properties and anyone entering the building.
When harvested, the plants are estimated to generate cannabis with a street value of around £1.5 million over the course of a year.
Northern Powergrid assisted officers in making the premises safe and had to dig up a large section of the road as part of this work. The condition of the wiring throughout the buildings presented an extremely serious fire hazard and served as a stark reminder of the dangers these illegal operations can pose to local communities.
Inspector Michael Head of the Gainsborough Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "The scale of what we discovered demonstrates that this was far from a small, personal cultivation. Operations of this size are often linked to organised criminality and can have a detrimental impact on our communities.
"What was particularly alarming was the condition of the electrical system inside the property. The demand being placed on the power supply was so great that fuse boxes had started to melt. This created an extremely serious fire hazard, putting neighbouring properties and members of the public at risk.
"Many people do not realise the dangers associated with cannabis grows. Alongside the criminality involved, they are often created using unsafe electrical modifications that can have devastating consequences.
"Removing around 1,200 plants from circulation is a significant disruption to criminal activity and demonstrates our commitment to tackling drug production and keeping our communities safe."
The plants have been seized and will be destroyed.
No arrests have been made at this stage and enquiries remain ongoing as officers continue to investigate those responsible for operating the cultivation.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact us on 101, quoting incident 587 of 4 August. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers UK.