Cannabis plants worth £2m seized in gangs crackdown

CANNABIS plants worth an incredible £2 million have been seized in the Lothians during the last year following a police crackdown on drug farms run by organised crime gangs from Asia.

A total of 12,320 plants were discovered in 133 raids, with most being grown in flats, houses and farm buildings.

The figure represents a massive rise on the previous year when cannabis plants worth only 275,000 were found by the force.

The huge increase was today described as "absolutely shocking", with calls being made for a tougher approach against the gangs behind the illicit trade.

Gangsters from China, Malaysia and Vietnam are said to be behind the majority of the cannabis farm operations, with police discovering around three new cultivations each week in the Lothians.

Among the city areas where cannabis farms have been discovered since last April are Juniper Green, Craigmillar, Newhaven, Gracemount and Cramond.

A police spokesman said: "The increase in cannabis plant seizures is testament to the various intelligence-led operations we have carried out and will continue to carry out to identify and locate anyone concerned in the drugs trade.

"In order to assist us to continue to remove illegal drugs from our communities, the public are asked to remain vigilant and report any suspected drug-related criminal activity to police immediately."

The plants were seized between last April and March this year, with the value of 2.085m estimated by police according to the potential yield of drugs they could deliver.

During the previous year, 81 raids saw 1822 plants valued at 275,550 recovered by officers, while in 2007-8, 72 seizures saw 2648 plants recovered with an estimated value of 427,950. The figures were released by police under freedom of information laws.

Lothians Tory MSP Gavin Brown said: "The statistics are absolutely shocking. While some of this increase can no doubt be attributed to increased efforts from Lothian and Borders Police, for which they must be congratulated, some will be down to a greater amount of drugs being on the street.

"Anyone involved in serious organised crime such as this should have all their assets seized and only returned if they can prove they were legally obtained."

Despite the cannabis farms being based in the Lothians, police believe many of the drugs produced are intended to be sold in England or Glasgow.