Date: 15 July 2008
Police are urging the Landlords, Letting Agents and Property Management Companies to assist them in identifying premises being used to set up cannabis cultivation farms in Edinburgh.
Over the past three months a series of raids have taken place at various addresses across the city in relation to the illegal cultivations. At two addresses in particular, extensive cannabis cultivations were discovered.
In one particular operation, Police recovered £380,000 of herbal cannabis, £26,000 in cash and 20 persons have been detained.
Detective Inspector David Gordon who led the operation said: "The majority of cannabis farms are detected through community intelligence, which can come from many sources like trades people, neighbours, utilities workers, council employees and landlords."
"Police Forces in England have been successful in disrupting the activities of criminal gangs who established a network of cultivations in towns and cities in the North of
England. We are concerned that this enforcement action may mean that they will move their business to Scotland and try to rent a number of residential properties so they can continue to run cannabis farms. A crop can be harvested every 12 weeks, with a profit of £60,000 so it is a very lucrative business."
"We are just asking those involved in leasing and letting properties to be extra vigilant. They should ask for and examine identification documentation and not accept photocopied documents. Landlords should do all they can to verify the details of the tenants and ensure the premises are being used for legitimate purposes. On a number of previous occasions forged documentation has been used. If anyone has any suspicions they should contact the police."
"If a residential property is being used for cannabis cultivation there is a substantial risk of fire as the offenders tend to bypass the electricity meter. There is also a large amount of electrical and lighting equipment kept and used on the premises. There have been a number of occasions where cannabis farms at residential properties have caught fire placing immediate neighbours at risk and leaving extensive damage to the property."
"The tell tale signs of a cannabis farm include things like permanently covered windows, late night visitors, large amounts of black bin liners and compost use, a pungent smell coming from the premises and no obvious signs of normal activity i.e washing on the line, children playing and unkempt gardens. People often do not live on the premises and only visit to maintain the cannabis crop."
Anyone with any concerns about cannabis cultivations or any other crimes should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131-311-3131 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Lothian and Borders Police would like to hold an information seminar on this topic in
September 2008. Please register your interest in attending such an event no later than 20th August 2008 via Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce: Fionnuala.ODonovan@edinburghchamber.co.uk
