Operation Evolve: Large cannabis cultivation discovered in Kirkdale

We have seized more than 340 cannabis plants and a large quantity of cannabis from a cultivation in Kirkdale yesterday (Wednesday, December 17).

Officers from EVOLVE Everton-Vauxhall and Walton Lane Neighbourhood Policing Team executed a warrant on Delamore Street where they discovered a large cannabis farm across seven grow rooms as well as numerous large bags of cropped cannabis ready for distribution.

No-one was present and an investigation is ongoing with enquiries in the process of being carried out.

Inspector Chris Taylor, one of the senior officers involved in the Clear, Hold, Build operation EVOLVE Everton-Vauxhall said: "This was a large-scale cannabis cultivation capable of producing significant quantities of drugs that was clearly set up for commercial gain.

“Operations of this size are often linked to wider organised crime and we are keen to hear from anyone who noticed unusual activity in or around the property – even small pieces of information can make a big difference to our investigations.

“A cannabis farm brings significant risk to neighbouring residents - the people who grow cannabis farms extract electricity, which is extremely dangerous and poses a real risk of fire, so we are delighted this particular threat has been removed from the local community.
 
“Nobody wants to live close to a potential death-trap such as this, and it is often thanks to people living in affected areas who tell us about their suspicions, and the proactivity of our officers, that we are able to take action.

 "It is vital that people are aware of the signs of cannabis being grown and highlight any concerns to police as soon as possible.”

A video in which Matt Brown, the head of Merseyside Police’s Cannabis Dismantling Team (CDT), explains how you can spot signs of cannabis being grown near where you live can be found here - https://youtu.be/rc59i2dsZHM

Some of the signs that cannabis is being grown include:

• 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
• Windows are sealed and covered or the curtains are permanently closed
• Heat from an adjoining property
• Birds gathering on a roof in cold weather

Anyone with information on criminality can contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’. You can also report information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call 101.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling on 0800 555 11, or by making an online report here: https://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/get-involved/campaigns/give-information-100-anonymously-about-organised-crime-in-merseyside