A Bedford man in his 40s was among several people arrested during multiple warrants carried out by Bedfordshire Police last week.
He was arrested on Wednesday (7 June) during a warrant at Boyde Gardens in Queen’s Park on suspicion of production of a controlled drug of Class B.
During the raid, 195 cannabis plants were seized and totalled a maximum street value of £86,450.
This contributed to more than £450,000 worth of cannabis being seized through warrants across the county and led to three arrests.
In Luton, a man in his 30s and a 19-year-old were also arrested on suspicion of production of a controlled drug of Class B.
UK Power Network was called to the addresses to ensure the electricity supply at the properties was safe before police could seize the plants.
At one of the addresses, a botched electricity cable was found joined under floorboards to a neighbouring property, who would have been footing the electricity bill for the factory.
Detective Chief Inspector James Panter from Bedfordshire Police, leading investigations into serious and organised crime across the county, said: “We have a unique cannabis cultivation problem in our county due to our transport links, which makes it easy for criminal gangs to move and sell their products across the country.
“These warrants are another success story in our efforts to pinpoint cannabis factories which would otherwise go unnoticed.
“These factories hide in plain sight, they look like homes, abandoned pubs, or even warehouses – but could pose all sorts of risks to the community around them, from fires and electricity problems through to gang violence.
“We will go after these factories and bring them down alongside those who front these criminal enterprises.”
