Anonymous Call Leads To Cannabis Factory Discovery in Chilworth

Published on: 17 Jan, 2013
Updated on: 18 Jan, 2013

Cannabis plants grown with hydroponics (this image is not of those found at Chilworth)

An anonymous call advising of an insecure property led to the discovery of a cannabis factory in Chilworth, two miles south of Guildford, yesterday (January 16).

Police officers were alerted at 9.44am and arrived at the property just after 10am to find a front door smashed open and a drugs factory with full scale hydroponics operation in place. The upstairs bedrooms in the detached house all showed signs of being used for cannabis cultivation and around 200 plants were found. There was evidence of further plants having been recently harvested.

Officers have removed and destroyed the cannabis plants. House-to-house enquiries have been undertaken in the locality and anyone who may have further information in relation to the supply of cannabis in the neighbourhood is asked to contact Surrey Police.

Detective Constable Dan Chant investigating said: “The discovery of such a large scale operation to produce cannabis came directly from information provided about an insecure property. The house is in a semi-rural area and from the outside there was nothing to suggest it was being used for this illegal activity.

“Cultivation of cannabis is a criminal offence and this is an important discovery which will disrupt the supply of this illegal drug which blights our neighbourhoods. The supply of cannabis is something that we treat very seriously indeed and any offenders will be robustly dealt with by Surrey Police. 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. Please call officers on 101 quoting reference GD/13/406.”

DC Chant also appealed to landlords who own residential properties to be on their guard.

He said: “Many of the drugs factories that are found are discovered at rental properties and the landlord often has no idea of what’s going on. In some cases the property has sustained thousands of pounds worth of damage during the installation of equipment used to cultivate and store drugs. The first that the landlord hears of it is when we call, by which time they are left facing a huge bill and a property in appalling condition. If you do own a property, please carry out regular inspections and if you do suspect that illegal activity is taking place, please do not hesitate to contact Surrey Police.”

Surrey police advise that there are a number of things the public can look out for if they suspect that cannabis is being cultivated at an address:

• Do you let a house or flat and the locks have been changed?
• Is there a strange herbal smell in the air all the time?
• Are any shared walls hot to the touch?
• Do you know a house were the windows are always closed and the curtains drawn no matter what the weather?
• Are there extractor fans or air conditioning units on external walls that have recently been installed?

If you suspect a premises is being used for cultivation of cannabis or you know of any other drugs activity you can call Surrey Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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