Fifth 'cannabis factory' closure in two months

6:23pm Tuesday 5th June 2007

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A FIFTH 'cannabis factory' has been shut down in two months say police.

The raid took place at 11am today on a house in Coombfield Drive, Darenth.

Broadcast live by a hovering news helicopter, police officers forced their way into the semi-detached house and discovered £10,000 of hydroponic equipment.

The electriciy meter had also been bypassed.

Between 400 and 500 semi-mature plants were found growing in two bedrooms and a lounge, with a street value of around £48,000.

This is the fifth successful raid for North Kent police since April, after operations on houses in Littlebrook Manor Way, in Dartford, High Street, in Swanscombe, Tynedale Close, in Dartford and Hillhouse Road, in Stone.

PC Adrian Parsons, the force's drugs and licensing officer, said: "This is the fifth cannabis house to be closed down in North Kent since April and our second in a week.

"We would ask people to be vigilant and keep an eye on their neighbours and watch out for signs that drugs could be being grown and harvested."

• Can you help?

Police are asking residents to be on the look out for signs of possible illegal drugs activity, which include:

• Windows permanently covered from the inside
• Visits to the addresses will not match normal residents' patterns
• Visitors may call daily or weekly but only for short periods
• Removal of large numbers of black bags
• Compost bags and other gardening equipment in the garden close to the back door
• A pungent smell emanating from the property
• Sometimes a vent protruding from the roof tiles will be visible

Anyone with information can call 01322 283115 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555111.