Neighbours have been stunned by the 'unusual' discovery of a cannabis farm hidden in a Nottingham flat. Police were alerted to cannabis plants inside a flat close to the junction of Mansfield Road and Sherwood Rise, by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, at around 12.15am on Wednesday, May 10.
Firefighters suspected the building was being used to grow the Class B drug after being called to a false fire alarm. When police entered the building they discovered around 20 cannabis plants in one bedroom and 110 plants in pots in another bedroom in the multi-occupancy building.
Locals were surprised by the fire service's accidental discovery of the farm. Wendy Watkinson, 68, who has lived in the Sherwood Rise area for her whole life, said she had never heard of anything similar in the area.
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"Oh goodness, that is very surprising to hear. It is the kind of thing I imagine happening somewhere else, but that is all crimes.
"You do not usually hear about that sort of thing here - this is the first time I have heard anything like it."
Ananbsu Dserarkakeu, 24, a finance student at Nottingham Trent University who lives along Sherwood Rise, said: "I didn't see it happen, but you do see some people smoking weed and acting strange. I had no idea about this though.
"I don't know if the farm was a big problem, but it might have caused some trouble. I think there are bigger problems in this area though - it is very messy."
All the cannabis seized from the address will be destroyed and the equipment used to power the farm removed. Another resident, who did not want to be named, added: "It is unusual to hear about that sort of thing here. It's very busy in this area and not where I'd think these farms would be set up - but maybe that's the point."
Nottinghamshire Police explained cannabis production was "not a victimless crime" and had links to other criminal activity. Inspector Michael Corey, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a substantial cannabis grow and I’d like to thank colleagues in the fire service for alerting us. It’s another excellent example of how closely we work together.
“Cannabis production is far from a victimless crime – it attracts antisocial behaviour, usually has links to wider criminality, and poses a dangerous fire risk too, due to electricity being bypassed.
“Vulnerable people are also often exploited to do the dirty work of organised gangs, and are expected to live in appalling and dangerous conditions as gardeners for the grow.
“If anyone has any information which could help with our investigation, please call police on 101, quoting incident number 6 of May 10 2023, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”
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