Man arrested and large cannabis farm discovered in Alderley Edge

Police have arrested a man and recovered a large quantity of cannabis thanks to work by the local neighbourhood policing team.

At around 7.50am today, Wednesday 28 February, officers executed a warrant at an address on Heywood Close in Alderley Edge.

They found more than 100 cannabis plants inside the building and arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of being involved in the supply of class B drugs (cannabis).

The man is currently in custody helping officers with their enquiries.

Sergeant Helen Percival, of the Macclesfield Local Policing Unit, said:

“This is a fantastic result which has enabled us to remove a significant quantity of cannabis from the streets of Cheshire..

“Both the first floor and the attic at the property had been converted to produce cannabis on a large scale. The electricity had been dangerously bypassed, and more than 100 cannabis plants were discovered.

“We know the negative impact illegal drug use and supply can have on communities.

“We want people in Alderley Edge to feel safe in their communities and we are committed to doing all we can to put a stop to this sort of activity and improve the area.”

Residents are urged to remain vigilant and to continue to report any suspicions of illegal drug-related activity to the police.

There are a number signs that could indicate that a property is being used as a cannabis farm, including:

• A strong and sickly sweet smell
• Equipment to grow cannabis being taken into a property, such as lighting and ventilation equipment
• Constantly covered or blocked-off windows – cannabis farms often have constantly closed curtains, black-out blinds or foil coverings
• People coming and going at all hours or neighbours you never see
• Strong and constant lighting day and night
• High levels of heat and condensation – cannabis farms often give off heat and the windows stay misted up
• A constant buzz of ventilation – listen out for a whirring sound as the growers try to create an ideal climate for cannabis plants to grow
• Lots of power cables – offenders often dig underground to lay cables that hook up to things like lamp posts so they do not have to pay for the enormous amounts of electricity they use.

You can report suspected drug related activity to Cheshire Constabulary online at: 

www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report

...or by calling 101