By Graeme Strachan

A CANNABIS factory hidden in a house in suburban Broughty Ferry was raided by police yesterday.

Drugs squad officers discovered a large number of plants in the property in Portree Avenue, the second such seizure in the Dundee area in a matter of days.

Officers acting on intelligence received entered the smart semi-detached villa around 11am. No one was at the address at the time and efforts are continuing to trace those behind the factory.

Last night the house remained cordoned off while officers wearing gloves and masks to protect them from spores began bagging up the plants.

Yesterday’s operation is part of a concerted effort by Tayside Police to identify and close down cannabis factories.

Detective Sergeant Adrian Robertson of the drugs squad said, “This latest recovery is part of a wider operation to remove this criminal and extremely dangerous practice from the Tayside area.

“As we have stated before, cannabis cultivations—or drugs factories as they are also known—are a catastrophe waiting to happen.

“They pose an inherent fire risk due to electrical supplies being interfered with and the presence of hoses running alongside electricity.

“We would appeal to the public to be vigilant and report any suspicions of houses that might possibly be being used for such activities.

“Tell tale signs are often permanently covered windows, soil being taken into the house and strong odours coming from the house.

“Other signs are occupants and vehicles that are only seen from time to time at the address and often at unusual times of day and night.

“If you have any suspicions at all surrounding people or property that might be involved in illegal drugs activity, contact the police.

“I would appeal for anyone who knows anything about the occupants of the address in Portree Avenue or anyone with information that could assist our inquiries to contact us on 01382 223200.”

Neighbours told The Courier last night of their shock at discovering the potentially dangerous drugs operation in their midst.

Mrs Lilian MacKay said, “I’ve never seen anything like it in my street. Nothing happens here—it’s very peaceful.

“I’ve been living here since 1974 and this is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened.

“There’s been lots of changes at the house over the years—people coming and going—but you don’t expect there to be a cannabis factory on your doorstep.”

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, added, “I think all the neighbours will be shocked when they hear what’s happened.

“You just don’t expect that kind of thing to happen here—it’s a quiet street. I go past that house every day but had no idea of what was going on.”

Councillor Rod Wallace said the street may have been targeted because it’s so quiet.

“It’s a very normal, little estate where life just goes on and people—rightly or wrongly—look after themselves,” he said. “It does make you take a breath and ask yourself what goes on in your own area.”

Last year, more than six factories were discovered in Tayside and four men appeared in court on Thursday following a raid on an alleged cannabis cultivation in Liff.

Inquiries into a recovery in Methven, Perthshire, last week are continuing.

Cannabis factories are hidden in houses with an irrigation system, reflective foil on the walls and ventilation ducts sliced into the ceilings.

The meter is bypassed to tap into the large amounts of electricity needed to power lamps without raising suppliers’ suspicion.

Indoor cannabis farms, which can produce up to £250,000 of the class C drug each year, are appearing in quiet residential streets throughout the country in unprecedented numbers.

Detective Superintendent Willie MacColl, national drugs co-ordinator with the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, said cannabis was being grown on a larger extent than ever before.

“Houses, garages and factories are all being used to grow a huge number of plants,” he said.

Mr MacColl said it was evident that Triad gangs may be responsible for running many of the country’s cannabis factories and are importing Vietnamese or Chinese workers to cultivate the plants.

Mr MacColl said the public has a pivotal role to play in informing of them of any suspicious behaviour which might indicate a cannabis factory is operating in their community.

The number of cannabis farms being found by police has trebled over the last two years, according to a report.

Charity DrugScope said analysis of police raids showed up to 75% of cannabis farms were run by Vietnamese gangs.

DrugScope chief executive Martin Barnes said, “Some have considered large scale cannabis cultivation as an almost ‘victimless crime’ but the reality is that vulnerable young people are being exploited.

“Unfortunately they find themselves victims twice over—both at the hands of the criminal gangs who brought them to this country, forcing them to work in cramped, dangerous conditions to fuel the illegal drug trade—and again when they find themselves treated as criminals by the UK authorities.”