Police seize thousands of cannabis plants with street value of £7million

Local officers and specialist resources have been carrying out “almost daily” early morning raids on suspect properties throughout the four-month-old operation launched in response to residents in Ferham and Eastwood experiencing power cuts thought to be, in part, caused by the amount of cannabis farms in the area.

Since Friday, October 1 last year, police have dismantled 61 cannabis cultivations and seized 6,797 plants with a street value of almost £7 million.

Twenty five arrests have been made, leading to ten prosecutions and two people jailed.

Rotherham’s district commander Chief Supt Steve Chapman said: “People involved in the production and supply of drugs have a detrimental impact on the local area. 

“The power cuts were a real issue in the community — not only that, but the organised criminals behind most of these set-ups take advantage of society’s most vulnerable who are often coerced and forced in to harbouring drugs.

“Where drugs are, you are certain to find gang rivalry, violence and exploitation and we are going in hard in a bid to disrupt the supply chain.

“We are working with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to issue prohibition notices on any particularly problematic premises. The partnership is also educating landlords on how to safeguard their properties from being targeted by those wishing to grow and store drugs.

“This is ultimately all about preventing future crimes on our streets and making Rotherham inhabitable for dealers and organised criminals.

“Gang crime and serious violence ruins too many lives and we are doing all we can to intervene early and target drugs as the root cause. My ask of the public is to support us in our efforts, report any concerns and help us to keep Rotherham a safe place to live.”

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police added: “Cannabis farms are not only illegal, they are incredibly dangerous and present a substantial fire risk due to electricity being bypassed. 

“If you have any concerns about the production, storage and supply of drugs, please report these to police.

“Alternatively, you can pass information to the independent charity Crimestoppers and remain completely anonymous by calling 0800 555 111.”