Asian gangs targeted as police crack down on cannabis farms

POLICE are targeting gangs of organised criminals from south-east Asia who are operating networks of cannabis farms across the Lothians.

Officers say they have uncovered six of the drug factories run by the gangs since March, with hundreds of cannabis plants seized during the latest raids.

Gangsters from mainland China, Malaysia and Vietnam are behind the operations, and detectives say they have links to human trafficking, prostitution, money-laundering and counterfeit goods.

It is believed they are moving their operations north from London, the Midlands and Merseyside after being targeted by police.

Two of the gang's drug cultivations were found in Edinburgh in recent months, with the rest in Livingston, Whitburn, Newtongrange and Bathgate.

Detective Inspector Gary Cunningham, who heads up drugs operations in the east and south of the Capital, said the force was committed to tackling the gangsters.

He said: "We're becoming more successful in finding these cannabis farms and gathering intelligence against those running them.

"For these gangs, it's just another string to their bow as they're typically involved in a number of other strands of serious crime. They can be large groups who are well co-ordinated.

"We're working with other forces and the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency to tackle the south-east Asian gangs who are now active across the country."

Hydroponics equipment is used to provide the heat and light to force-grow the plants, while electricity is often siphoned illegally from another supply to hide its use.

Houses, flats, farm buildings and disused warehouses have been rented or taken over by the gangs, with "gardeners" employed to tend to the plants.

They have often arranged for illegal immigrants to be smuggled into the country before being put to work cultivating the cannabis farms. In February, three illegal immigrants from south-east Asia linked to cannabis farms in Gracemount and Craigmillar were jailed for more than eight years.

DI Cunningham added: "There are different scales in these cannabis-growing operations. Some involve people perhaps growing for themselves, their friends and selling in the local community.

"But the large-scale operations involving hundreds of plants involve these organised gangs. At this top end, they may be selling the drugs in bulk to other networks of dealers.

"We rely on the public for much of the information we use to trace these cultivations. Tell-tale signs may include a pungent smell, noise from equipment such, ventilation systems in roofs or back windows, windows being covered up, compost or gardening equipment being kept nearby, and unusual visits by people who may not be staying there."

Drug campaigners also voiced their concerns today about the proliferation of home-grown cannabis which can be up to four times stronger than resin.

David Liddell, director of the Scottish Drugs Forum, said: "Various surveys suggest that a minimum of a quarter of a million people used cannabis in Scotland last year, showing the market for the drug is considerable and extremely profitable for criminal gangs.

"The recent seizure trends highlight what we have being seeing for some time – a shift from lower strength imported cannabis towards higher strength cannabis produced in so-called cannabis factories."