Clampdown on Manchester drugs trade continues as police uncover cannabis farm in Ancoats unit

By Amy Senior

A cannabis farm was uncovered by Greater Manchester Police after a raid  on an Ancoats industrial unit yesterday morning.

Both neighbourhood officers and specialist officers from the Tactical Aid Unit’s Task Force found over 300 cannabis plants close to harvesting point in the Cable Street unit.

Although enquiries are on-going to pinpoint the growers responsible for the farm, Inspector Alan Clitherow from the Ancoats Neighbourhood Policing Team has deemed the bust a success.

He said: “This is an excellent result that has taken a large amount of drugs out of circulation.”

The specialist equipment clearly indicated the cannabis factory was a professional production with a harvest that could potentially equate to a street value of up to £90,000.

This amounts to 45 times more monetary value recovered through GMP’s recent ‘Operation Audacious’ where community groups were invited to witness raids on over 100 homes around Salford, Manchester, Stockport and Bolton.

Although unconnected to the residential raids, conducted early Tuesday morning, the Ancoats find clearly shows the GMP are committed to a clamp-down on Manchester’s drug trade.

Inspector Clitherow has asked anyone who has witnessed people entering or leaving the unit to contact police immediately.

Similarly GMP are urging that residents report any tell-tale signs of cannabis farms to police which include smells, constantly closed curtains, condensed windows and people coming and going at unusual times.

They also ask that landlords make regular property visits and reminded them that cannabis cultivating could cause them a loss of revenue through damage and illegally sourced electricity.

If you have any information surrounding the Cannabis factory or recognise the above signs in your area, please contact GMP on: 0161 856 3832.

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.