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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Luke Traynor

Huge sprawling cannabis farm hidden behind shuttered industrial estate unit

This was the huge sprawling cannabis farm found hidden behind shutters that was busted by angle-grinding police this week.

Officers used the high-powered equipment to force their way inside a unit on Caddick Road, on the Knowsley Business Park in Prescot.

Inside was a highly-sophisticated growing operation featuring lamps, electricity hook-ups and about 300 of the Class B plants.

A man, 33, was arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation, on Wednesday.

The warrant was part of a day-long police blitz around Knowsley, focusing on serious violence in the borough.

Among the most notable incidents was a visit to an address on Elstead Street, Kirkby, in relation to guns.

Large cannabis farm found on Caddick Road in Knowsley (merpol)

Officers search the property and found a large amount of cash, cannabis and drugs paraphernalia, along with a Kawasaki scrambler bike, suspected as being stolen

A 21-year-old woman, and a man, 18, were arrested for possession with intent to supply Class B drugs and possession of criminal property.

Another warrant was carried out at Alamore House, Huyton, by detectives probing a drug supplying operation between Liverpool and Yorkshire.

Inside were phones, cannabis and suspected cocaine.

Two men, aged 21 and 25, who were also located inside were arrested for multiple drugs offences and taken to custody for questioning.

Later in the day, a car was stopped after it was spotted speeding on Aylton Road in Huyton.

Cash found in the footwell of a car after a police vehicle stop in Huyton (merpol)

The subsequent search revealed a large amount of money hidden in the passenger seat footwell, and further checks showed the car was suspected as stolen.

Three men, in their late 30s, were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and money laundering.

Open land searches were conducted in Kirkby by officers hunting for weapons and drugs.

And 40 stop searches were carried out during the day-long blitz.

Cash, cannabis, and drug related items found in Elstead Street, Kirkby (merpol)
Open land searches carried out by police in Knowsley (merpol)

Inspector Jon Coote, of Merseyside Police, said: “We are continuing to use a variety of tactics during these deployments and are adapting our policing styles to meet current demands and keep the public and ourselves safe.

“This shows the fantastic results achieved by proactive policing and I am sure the community welcome officers patrolling our streets as well as removing those involved in criminality.”

He added: "We know that restrictions in place currently are making it hard for people to go about their normal day-to-day lives so we want to thank the vast majority of you who are acting safely and sensibly.

"However, those who are continuing to exploit vulnerable people, actively grow and distribute drugs, steal property, commit serious violence or get involved in other criminal activity should be warned - we are continuing to proactively police our streets, bring offenders to justice and protect the wider public.”

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