Huge cannabis grow found inside abandoned building

WATCH: Police uncover HUGE cannabis farm in ABANDONED BUILDING - YouTube

Officers in Murton uncovered an expansive cannabis grow hidden inside an abandoned building last month.

The grow, located in the disused Co-Op building on Wood’s Terrace, contained more than 1,300 plants, and was located thanks to thermal imaging and community intelligence.

Watch as officers from Seaham & Easington Neighbourhood Police Team force entry to the building and work their way through a maze of attics and hidden doors.

Inside they uncovered a system of tents each containing hundreds of plants, bypassed electrical wires, and evidence of the ‘farmers’ having lived in the building.

Work is currently underway to identify the perpetrators.

Remember that while cannabis may be ‘just a plant’, not only is it a controlled drug, but operations such as the one uncovered here can be fraught with dangers not only to those responsible, but to the wider community.

In particular, tampering with the electrics of the building poses a significant fire risk.

PC Martin Thursfield shared how to spot signs of a grow:

• Mould and condensation on windows can point to an excess of heat and moisture.
• Large grows often require a large quantity of fans, ducting, gardening equipment, fertiliser and lights. Watch out for them being taken into buildings.
• Although workmen working on a building’s electrics can be perfectly innocent, it can also be a precursor to the electric being bypassed in preparation for a grow.
• Windows and vents will often be sealed off hide the inside and contain the smell.
• Despite their best efforts, the pungent odour will often be noticeable in the surrounding area, as well as noise and light pollution from fans and lighting.
• Tenants will often want to pay cash upfront for a long-term lease, and locks will be changed.

If you have concerns or suspicions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Contact Durham Police via 101, or 999 in an emergency.

If you’d prefer to remain anonymous, you can make a report to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.