Cannabis farm in Livingston house

Apr 1 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

COPS have issued an appeal for information after a cannabis farm was found in a house in Livingston.

Police found five growing areas containing 200 plants in the house at Ossian Drive, Murieston, during a search last Wednesday.

And officers estimate the crop would have a value of around £30,000.

Enquiries are now underway to locate the individuals responsible for the cultivation.

A police spokesman said: “Our enquiries suggest that this cultivation was being operated by members of a south east Asian-organised crime group.

“We are appealing to members of the local community who may be able to help us identify and locate members of this group to come forward.

“Lothian and Borders Police continue to recover high-value quantities of drugs and impact upon the operations of these crime gangs but require intelligence to keep doing so.

“Anyone with information relating to serious and organised crime in their area is asked to contact police immediately.”

Last year police uncovered one of the biggest ever cannabis factories in Whitburn.

Officers stumbled across the drug farm by chance after firefighters were called to Norwood Industrial Estate following reports of a fire.

The haul of over 1200 plants, with an estimated street value of around £500,000, was one of the biggest ever made in the country.

Firefighters attended after getting calls reporting smoke coming from a unit which turned out to be steam caused by the massive cannabis cultivation.

Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 3113131, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555111.