TWO men were arrested after a cannabis farm with an estimated annual yield of £2.4million was discovered at a house in Wallasey.

At about 9.35pm on Wednesday, police on patrol in Trafalgar Road noticed what they suspected was a strong smell of cannabis from a property.

They found 603 of cannabis plants being grown across 10 rooms on four floors inside the building.

The estimated annual yield of the cannabis farm was £2.4 million. A large quantity of dried cannabis was also discovered and seized.

Two men, aged 24 and 32, were seen leaving the address and arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis and illegal entry to the United Kingdom.

They are currently being interviewed at a police station in Merseyside.

Community Inspector Paul Harrison said: "Cannabis cultivation by criminal gangs can cause serious harm in our communities.

"Criminal groups involved in the cultivation of cannabis are usually involved in other serious organised crime and they often rent residential properties such as this.

"Our communities can help us stop these groups, who are only interested in making money, from turning houses and flats into potential death traps.

"Nobody wants to live next door to these houses and we would ask that if you believe someone is using a property for this purpose, please tell us so we can take positive action and find those responsible for setting them up.

"The people who set up these farms often tamper with the electricity meters to steal electricity, and there will generally be a number of hot lamps hooked to overloaded electricity sockets as well as an extensive watering system.

"Electricity and water are never a good combination, and the fire service have seen an increase in the number of fires they have been called to as a result of fires caused by the crude systems put in place by the people who set up these farms."

Some of the signs that cannabis is being grown are:

  • Strange smells and sounds
  • Frequent and varied visitors to a property, often at unusual times 
  • Gardening equipment being taken into a property, such as plant pots, fertiliser, fans and industrial lighting
  • Sealed and covered windows or permanently-closed curtains
  • Heat from an adjoining property
  • Birds gathering on a roof in cold weather

Police say that individually these activities may seem commonplace, however, but together may indicate something more sinister.

Anyone with any information can call police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.