- Organised crime gangs exploiting vacant commercial properties
- They cultivate cannabis on an industrial scale
- Authorities are working to prevent these spaces
Organised crime gangs are exploiting vacant commercial properties to cultivate cannabis on an industrial scale, according to police.
From former toy shops to disused banks, a surge in cannabis farms has been uncovered across the UK.
The decline of high streets and reduced foot traffic has created ideal conditions for these criminal operations.
Vacant retail spaces, once bustling with customers, are now being transformed into clandestine cannabis factories. In some cases, entire buildings have been repurposed for this illegal activity.
For example, a former department store in Newport, Wales, housed over 3,000 cannabis plants, with an estimated street value of £2 million.
Police forces across the country are intensifying their efforts to combat this issue. Last year, nearly 1,000 arrests were made in connection with cannabis farm operations.
However, the problem persists, highlighting the challenges faced by law enforcement.
Experts warn that estate agents, electricians, and other professionals could face legal consequences if they knowingly assist in the conversion of properties into cannabis farms.
As high streets continue to evolve, authorities are working to prevent these spaces from becoming breeding grounds for criminal activity.
