PSNI raids £500,000 cannabis factory

A major cannabis factory containing around £500,000 (€591,790) of drugs was uncovered by police today.

Detectives from the Organised Crime Branch raided the property in Bangor on the back of intelligence information.

The £500,000 (€591,790) haul plants was removed from the illegal production operation on the Newtownards Road.

Heating and lighting equipment known to be used in hydroponics cannabis growth was also seized.

Detective Inspector Douglas Grant said: “We have taken a huge amount of drugs out of circulation and believe today’s actions may have saved lives and prevented substantial damage to property.

“The equipment these criminals were using was installed in a dangerous manner, which exposed the property, adjoining properties and members of the local community to the danger of fire.

“It is important for members of the community to report any suspicious activity to police. If a house or any other type of dwelling near you has blackened windows or is giving off a pungent smell, or there are people coming and going from the property at strange times of the day, there could be cannabis growing inside.

“It is also important that private landlords carry out thorough checks on their tenants, as organised crime gangs use rental properties for cannabis factories.

“The PSNI has shut down a considerable number of these and many were owned by private landlords who did not realise their property was being used for crime.”