Three men have been arrested and two cannabis farms have been seized after a car was stopped by officers on patrol.
The incident took place around 3pm yesterday, July 5, after the force were alerted to a blue Audi car travelling along Hammond Street, St Helens.
After a "short pursuit," Merseyside Police said the vehicle was brought to a stop and searched, during which cannabis was recovered.
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During a later search of three home addresses, officers also seized approximately £2,000-£3,000 in cash, cannabis, and two cannabis farms.
T hree men - a 31-year-old from Liverpool, a 29-year-old from St Helens and a 30-year-old man from Leytonstone were arrested and all three remain in custody for questioning by detectives.
Matt Brown, head of the Cannabis Dismantling Team, said it was a "complex search" which led to a number of addresses, but each has a "successful result."
In a statement today, Merseyside Police said: "We have arrested three men and seized two cannabis farms after officers on patrol stopped a car in St Helens yesterday, Monday 5 July.
"At around 3pm, police were alerted to a blue Audi car travelling along Hammond Street. After a short pursuit, the vehicle was brought to a stop and searched, during which cannabis was recovered.
"A 31-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug and driving offences.
"During a later search of three home addresses, officers seized approximately £2,000-£3,000 in cash, cannabis, and two cannabis farms.
"A 31-year-old man from Liverpool was further arrested on suspicion of possession of criminal property.
"A 29-year-old man from St Helens was arrested for production of a controlled Class B drug and possession of criminal property.
"A 30-year-old man from Leytonstone was arrested for production of a controlled Class B drug.
"All three men remain in custody for questioning by detectives.
"Each of the premises searched have now been made safe by the Cannabis Dismantling Team."
Matt Brown, head of our Cannabis Dismantling Team, said: "This was a complex search which led us to a number of addresses - each with a successful result.
"Our searches found cannabis farms with the potential to produce large amounts of the drug for wider distribution. The risks they posed for residents and businesses nearby were large - including fire, flood and violent crime.
"Thanks to the actions of our officers, three men are now in custody and a large amount of drugs have been prevented from being sold on our streets.
"We take action on all information received about drug production, supply and storage so keep telling us what you know and we’ll keep the streets safer from the harm they cause. Be aware of some of the signs of cannabis growth, and we’ll do the rest."
Some of the signs that cannabis is being grown are:
• Strange smells and sounds
• Frequent and varied visitors to a property, often at unusual times
• Gardening equipment being taken into a property, such as plant pots, fertiliser, fans and industrial lighting
• Windows are sealed and covered or the curtains are permanently closed
• Heat from an adjoining property
• Birds gathering on a roof in cold weather
• Individually these activities may seem commonplace, however, together may indicate something more suspicious
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Anyone with information on suspected drug production or criminal activity in their community can contact @MerPolCC, call 101 or come forward anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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