POLICE officers have secured closure orders for three properties in Coventry which were being used as cannabis farms.
The addresses, in Dean Street, Monks Road and Hastings Road, were all being used to grow cannabis and were shut following successful warrants.
The orders, issued at Coventry Magistrates Court, prevent anyone other than the owner from going in for three months.
The Monks Road address was raided by officers on March 6 after it was discovered the electricity had been dangerously bypassed.
Inside, officers found 28 cannabis plants upstairs, with 23 more on the floor below.
Throughout the property they discovered hydroponics equipment and heaters which were all drawing from the bypassed electricity mains.
In Dean Street, more than 50 plants were found at the address, with four growing rooms set up to grow and process the cannabis.
Finally, at Hastings Road, officers found a significant cannabis farm, with 214 plants inside.
A 32-year-old man was also arrested at this address. He was later charged with cultivating cannabis and jailed for 10 months on April 5.
Coventry North East Inspector Sarah Stobbart said: “This was some more excellent work by the teams involved, all of whom are committed to dealing with cannabis farms and the crime linked to them.
“These cannabis farms are so dangerous, not only posing a fire risk to the property itself, but to the neighbouring houses.
“Along with this, cannabis cultivation also involves the exploitation of vulnerable people at all levels, so we are determined to keep up the pressure on drug dealers in Coventry.
“We rely on information from the public to tell us where this kind of activity is going on, as this helps us build an intelligence picture of how and where to target our activity.
“If you’re worried this might be going on near where you live, please do tell us.”
To report suspicious activity, call police on 101, submit information via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
