Fire alert led police to drugs operation (From This is Hampshire)
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Fire alert led police to drugs operation
9:29am Monday 20th November 2006 in News By Kate Martin
Police community support officer Jenna May in the garage of the house in Selby Walk, Popley, Basingstoke, where cannabis plants were discovered Buy this photo »
A CANNABIS factory that covered two floors of a three-storey terraced house has been uncovered after a small fire broke out.
Police officers estimate that more than 500 plants were being grown at the house in Selby Walk, in Popley, Basingstoke - occupying every room on the ground floor and first floor.
A team of officers removed the huge crop of cannabis plants on Monday, November 13. The plants were then taken away to be destroyed by a specialist company.
Officers said they were unable to estimate the street value of the plants, as they could have been harvested repeatedly.
Detective Constable Steve Beech, of Basingstoke CID, who was overseeing the removal of the plants, said: "We are looking at between 500 and 1,000 plants. The value it would bring when it is manufactured is quite astronomical.
"Whoever has done this knew what they were doing. It is one of the best ones I have seen for a very long time."
The neighbour who raised the alarm told The Gazette she saw a man, who she believes could be of Chinese origin, flee the scene when the firefighters arrived. The police are continuing their investigations into who is behind the cannabis factory.
As reported in The Gazette on Monday, November 13, the crop was only discovered when a neighbour spotted smoke coming from the roof of the house on the morning of Thursday, November 9.
She called the firefighters, who had to break into the property to put out the flames in an air conditioning unit on the top floor, and then discovered the plants. The fire crews then called in the police.
Det Con Beech said: "It was only a small fire, and did hardly any damage, but if it hadn't been for that, who knows how long this might have been going on for."
While all of the plants have been destroyed, many of the lamps used to keep the plants warm will now be given to Marwell Zoo to help keep their animals warm.
