Drug factory No. 16 is found

8:26am Wednesday 2nd May 2007

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Police found yet another cannabis 'factory' in Oxford yesterday.

Officers raided a house in Druce Way, Blackbird Leys, shortly after 9am following a tip-off from neighbours. They found 244 mature plants. It is the 16th factory discovered in the city since January 1.

It is estimated that so far this year, the value of plants seized has been £1.74m, and if left undisturbed to be harvested over a year, the drugs would have fetched £7m. After smashing down the door, officers were confronted with four rooms full of mature cannabis plants.

No-one was in the property. A forensic team was called in to search the home for evidence.

Windows in the three-bedroom semi-detached had been blacked out with plastic sheeting and only three rooms were habitable.

Police officers called in engineers from Southern Electric to make the property safe after they found growers had illegally rerouted the mains - to avoid detection and paying for power.

Neighbourhood specialist officer Alex Shepherd said the operation had been prompted by community-led intelligence.

He said: "The annual turnover for this place would have been upwards of £100,000, so we have taken a lot of money off the street."

He added: "This is just good policing. It is what the community expects."

Neighbours were shocked to discover that a drugs house had been discovered on their doorstep.

One woman said: "I haven't seen any comings or goings from that house for a couple of months.

"This area is very close knit and it is a nice little part, so this is a worry."

Oxford police drugs co-ordinator Dc Leigh Thompson said he was surprised by the number of cannabis factories discovered.

He added: "There could be more or we may have done them all, we just don't know."

Anyone with information about potential cannabis factories is urged to call Thames Valley Police on 08458 505505.