Village drugs factory shock

A DRUGS den containing more than 500 cannabis plants, was uncovered yesterday when a Caister landlord made checks on his Yarmouth Road property, having not been paid rent from tenants for almost three months.

To his astonishment the four bedroom home had been transformed into a hi-tech cannabis factory with high voltage heat lamps dangling from ceilings and a sophisticated watering system set up in the bathroom.

Electrics in the property have been damaged beyond repair as operators have illegally tapped into the supply. Costly renovation work has been wrecked with carpets, ceilings and newly painted walls left in ruins.

It comes less than two weeks after police seized 1,580 cannabis plants from the Waverley Hotel, on Princes Road, in Great Yarmouth, which is currently being renovated.

Today Sgt Andy Brown appealed for information from members of the public as Yarmouth properties become increasingly targeted as growing houses by drug gangs.

And Sgt Brown, from the local safer neighbourhood team, said it was possible the two recent finds could be connected.

He said: “We would urge people to look out for drawn curtains and condensation on windows. The heat produced by these lamps would have caused a lot of moisture on the windows.”

Sgt Brown said it was unusual to find such a sophisticated operation in Caister and said people coming and going from a property was another sign for neighbours to look for.

“I would ask shops to be aware of people buying bulk fertiliser,” said Sgt Brown.

The home has been left in ruins with holes drilled into the ceilings for ventilation in a bid to get rid of the smell from the powerful skunk plants. A front room had been concealed with planks of wood put up a bay window to block out light from the heat lamps, which were timed on a 12-hour rota, and curtains drawn to avoid suspicion.

Anyone with information should contact Sgt Andy Brown at Caister police station on 0845 456 4567.

Picture: Laura Bagshaw