Cannabis factories discovered in Camberley and Guildford

Three cannabis factories have been discovered across West Surrey in the past week.
Officers attended a property in Camberley on Friday (22 January) where they uncovered a factory in Star Post Road. More than one hundred flowering cannabis plants were recovered from the bedrooms in house. A 34-year-old Vietnamese has been charged with the production of a Class B drug and has been remanded in custody.

Two addresses in Guildford were raided yesterday (Tuesday, 26 January) and cannabis plants were retrieved from each. No-one was discovered at the first semi-detached house in Palm Grove in the Bellfields area but 200 plants were found in the front and back bedrooms and an outhouse.

A detached house in Pilgrims View, Ash Green was the site for a further factory where officers found 100 mature cannabis plants in a garage. Five Vietnamese men aged between their twenties and forties are currently in custody as a result of the search.

DI John Cable investigating said: “Cultivation of cannabis is a criminal offence and these are important discoveries which were made thanks to local intelligence and will disrupt the supply of illegal drugs which blight our neighbourhoods. Drug misuse is a community problem and it is important that anyone with information or suspicions about drugs in their area contacts us so we can take action.

“The results of the raids demonstrate that cannabis factories are not confined to inner cities, as is often the perception. Even in a safe, leafy county like Surrey, people should be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police. Signs to look out for are lots of visitors to one house and cars coming and going at all times of day or night. Other indications might be windows permanently covered up, unusual coloured lights inside the house, roof tiles raised for ventilation purposes or a strong herbal smell coming from the property.

“Landlords and letting agents should be conscious of who they are letting to, as once a house has been converted into a cannabis factory it can cost tens of thousands of pounds to restore.”

If you have suspicions about drug related crime in your area, you can contact Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222. Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously and free of charge on 0800 555 111.



For more information call Margaret Cole, Media Relations Officer for West Surrey based at Guildford on 01483 630262
E-mail: 11484@surrey.pnn.police.uk

Call 0845 125 2222 for all non-emergency policing matters.

Call 999 if you have a genuine emergency requiring the attendance of the police (eg a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger).

For up-to-date news see our website at: www.surrey.police.uk

North West Surrey Police, Direct Line 01483 655785