POLICE have arrested a man and seized hundreds of cannabis plants at what is being labelled a “sophisticated drug production operation”.
Officers from Wiltshire Police raided the unit at Whitehill Industrial Estate in Royal Wootton Bassett on Wednesday morning (February 8), where they seized around 500 cannabis plants.
A member of the public called the police, expressing concerns about a strong smell coming from a business unit at the industrial estate, off Whitehill Lane.
After “extensive police activity” over the past few days, the site has now been cleared.
A 53-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the production of cannabis and has been released under investigation.
Inspector James Brain, from the local Community Policing Team, said: “This member of the public did exactly the right thing and, after noticing something suspicious about this premises, alerted police so it could be investigated.
“The production and supply of any illegal drugs is a concern, but we want people to be aware that these types of cannabis factories have a number of issues which impact on the local community. There is often associated nuisance and anti-social behaviour, including the strong smell, and can sometimes be linked to exploitation or trafficking.
“We would encourage everyone to be aware of the signs of this type of illegal activity and to report any suspicions to the police.”
Wiltshire Police also released guidance on how to spot the signs of cannabis production.
The signs include windows being permanently covered, high levels of condensation, a sense of smell, the property having lots of visitors, rocketing electricity bills and snow melting quickly on its roof.
They also urged people to be alert to the constant buzz of ventilation fans.
A spokesperson for the force added: “If you suspect there is a cannabis factory next door, you should phone us on 101 or 999 if a crime is in progress.
“You can also contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or go to crimestoppers-uk.org/campaigns-media/campaigns/report-cannabis-cultivation.”
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