THIS is the massive haul of cannabis which police officers found when they smashed their way into a £160,000 drugs farm.
The shocking discovery of between 300 and 400 plants was made after neighbours reported a strange smell coming from the empty flat on Lytham’s Clifton Drive.
Inside, police found three rooms of the flat packed full of plants, which were being grown in paddling pools with the aid of specialist hydroponic equipment.
And now the hunt is on to find the drug dealers responsible for cultivating the massive haul.
Sgt Lisa Griffin, of Lancashire Police, said: “It was an empty flat and is up for rent so we will speak to the agent who is acting on behalf of the owner.
“We need to speak to the owner.
“It is definitely an on-going investigation and hopefully the estate agent will be very helpful with our inquiries.”
The plants were found in two bedrooms and the lounge of the property, and the images show the sophisticated equipment which had been installed to cultivate them.
Metal piping was worked through the chimney of the property and the culprits by-passed the electricity to run the lights, strung from the ceiling.
And Sgt Griffin has revealed police were able to act quickly to make the seizure after securing the estate agent’s permission to force entry into the flat.
She said: “We went to the estate agents and said this is what has happened and would they authorise our entry.
“They did not have access to a key so we did have to force entry on their authority.
“If we had waited another couple of days (to get a warrant) they could have got wind of the operation and had it removed. I’m glad we acted as quickly as we did.
“That would not have been possible without the community assisting us with our inquiries and it’s important for people to bring things to our attention, no matter how small.”
Coun Cheryl Little, who represents Fairhaven ward on Fylde Council, said: “I’m shocked. But I am grateful to the neighbours who were confident enough to approach and tell the community beat manager.”
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