Police who descended on a boarded-up former pub in Oldham yesterday have confirmed the discovery of a cannabis farm worth more than £1 million.
Acting on intelligence from members of the public and additional enquiries, neighbourhood officers forced entry to the building on Higginshaw Lane, Royton, at around 9:30 yesterday morning (January 8).
Once inside, they found over £1 million worth of mature cannabis plants, in a ‘sophisticated’ set-up that bypassed the local electricity supply. A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis shortly after following a pursuit.
Officers remained at the scene overnight and into the next day, carrying out enquiries and photographing the scene. They have confirmed their investigation remains ongoing, and that the haul of cannabis is to be dismantled, seized and destroyed.
Neighbours reported that the fire service and electricity board were also in attendance, with the latter digging up the road just outside the building, prompting a four-way traffic light at the busy crossroads nearby and causing considerable disruption to traffic.
A building on Higginshaw Lane, Royton, where over £1 million’s worth of cannabis plants were discovered by police.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Police later confirmed in a statement that “the electricity supply had been bypassed too, as part of a sophisticated setup.”
A staff member at Short Bark and Sides, a dog-grooming salon opposite, reported having seen “bright orange lamps” inside the building after police entered. “There was a strong smell of weed so we knew straightaway it was a grow,” they said.
“We know the building had been a pub, and then offices for a coaching company. Then a scrap metal sign went up on the side. But it’s been quiet for a while.”
The frontage of the building on Higginshaw Lane.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Several police cars and investigation vans were at the scene.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Another neighbour, Brian, said he had lived on Higginshaw Lane for 40 years and remembered the building as a pub. It is believed to date back to 1860 as the Lancashire Hotel.
“Police smashed the front door in and broke through the back gates too,” he told the M.E.N. “It felt like there were hundreds of them, it was like something from a movie.”
He said the electricity board were there late into the night yesterday (January 8). “They’ve had to close half the road off, it’s caused a hell of a racket around here.”
“I never really saw many people go in and out of the building,” he continued. “It’s quiet round here, mostly industrial estates.”
There was a considerable amount of debris in the yard to the rear of the building
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
In a statement, Inspector Stuart Berry of GMP’s Oldham District, said: “This is a great example of our neighbourhood officers acting on information from the public to keep our communities safe.
“We know drugs supply has widespread consequences across Greater Manchester, and in Oldham we are determined to continue our approach of taking the fight back to the criminals on issues that matter the most to our local residents.
“We will continue to listen to concerns and take them on board when prioritising where in your community we need to have visible presence and what we need focus on to make people feel safer.”