Skunk farms out of control

Although more than 3,000 cannabis farms were raided last year, detectives fear they are nowhere near shutting down the majority of them. [11 June 2009]

According to Det Insp Bill Stupples, "It will take a crew of ten all day to dismantle a farm, bagging the plants, taking away the equipment and photographing it. We're having to cherrypick our targets now."

Super-strength skunk

An average cannabis farm, which has 800 plants, can yield £1million of 'super-strength' skunk a year. With the 3,000 cannabis farms closed last year, £3billion of the drug was prevented from reaching the streets.

Organised criminal gangs

Forces are now increasingly targeting higher-level criminals and organised criminal gangs. Last year, West Yorkshire closed down the highest number of cannabis farms at 368.

Read more on the Metro's website.

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Read about Crimestoppers and National Tackling Drugs Week and watch a film about how to spot a cannabis farm.