Cracking down on cannabis cultivation

The fight against drugs in our communities is something the Police and Crime Commissioner takes incredibly seriously.

And as the recent Operation Scorpion week of action has shown, when we work together, both as police forces and as a community, we can make a huge impact.

Last month, officers across the South West carried out a major crackdown on large-scale cannabis production. They executed 32 warrants, arrested 36 people, and seized over 2,240 cannabis plants, £57,335 in cash, and a variety of weapons, including knives and firearms. These weren’t just small-time operations; these were part of serious organised crime networks that bring drugs, violence, and exploitation into our communities.

For the past four years, the five South West police forces – Devon & Cornwall, Avon & Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire – and their respective Police and Crime Commissioners have been working together through Operation Scorpion to tackle drug crime head-on. This latest crackdown was also linked to Operation Mille, a national effort focused on breaking up large-scale cannabis networks.

The Police and Crime Commissioner recently joined officers in a small village near Exeter, where they raided a property being used for large-scale cannabis cultivation. You might assume this kind of crime only happens in big cities, but the reality is drug gangs are setting up in quiet residential areas, right under people’s noses. The cannabis being grown in places like this isn’t just for local supply, it’s being trafficked into towns and cities, across the region, and beyond.

Cannabis farms aren’t just about the drugs. They’re linked to antisocial behaviour, serious violence, and human trafficking. Many of the people involved in these grows are vulnerable individuals – often victims of modern slavery – who have been trafficked and forced to work in appalling conditions. The criminals behind these operations don’t care about the harm they cause, as long as they’re making money.

This is why we must continue to act decisively – not just to remove drugs from our streets, but to protect those being exploited and prevent further criminal activity.

Many of these drug farms have been uncovered because local people have noticed something suspicious and reported it. This information is absolutely vital in helping police take action.

If something doesn’t seem right in your area, please report it. Even small bits of information can help build a bigger picture and lead to significant arrests and drug seizures.

Large-scale cannabis grows often have noticeable signs. Some things to watch out for include:

• Lots of visitors at odd hours
• Windows permanently covered
• Excessive security measures on a normal house
• Wiring running off street lighting
• Heavy condensation on windows, even in warm weather
• A strong, distinctive smell
• Bright lights on 24/7

If you spot anything suspicious, report it to the police by calling 101 or using the online portal at www.devon-cornwall.police.uk. If you’d prefer to stay completely anonymous, you can report to Crimestoppers at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or call 0800 555 111.

The police know that drug crime is a huge concern for people across our region, and we’re listening. From antisocial behaviour to violent crime, the knock-on effects of the drug trade damage communities and ruin lives. That’s why we’re continuing to push forward with this work and why the Police and Crime Commissioner has kept drugs a priority for Devon & Cornwall Police for the next four years in her Police and Crime Plan.

People often assume drug production is hidden away in industrial buildings, but the reality is criminals set up in houses and flats in normal neighbourhoods, hoping no one will notice.

A few years ago a disused nightclub in Torquay was raided as part of Operation Scorpion, and a huge cannabis farm was discovered inside. That’s the same pattern we’re seeing now – criminals taking over unsuspecting buildings in communities where people wouldn’t expect it.

But thanks to local residents reporting concerns and proactive policing, we’re making it clear that the South West is no place for drugs.

If something feels off, report it. Whether it’s strange activity at a property, a persistent strong smell of cannabis, or any of the other signs listed above, your information could be the key to shutting down criminal operations.

So let’s keep working together. Let’s keep reporting crime. And let’s keep making Devon and Cornwall, and the wider South West, a safer place for everyone