Sessay Cannabis grow

Thirsk NPT have uncovered a £500,000 cannabis factory near Thirsk.

A significant cannabis factory has been found on an agricultural premises in a rural location at Sessay, near Thirsk.

The discovery was made last week by our neighbourhood officers who found more than 1,100 cannabis plants, as well as dried cannabis, packaged in approximately 500g-1kg bags within a sophisticated set-up on a hidden site.

The farm took days to dismantle with experts putting an estimated street value of more than half a million pounds on just the plants. Various lighting and equipment, which is also expected to be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, was seized.

Following the find we launched an in-depth investigation and have so far arrested seven men from the West Yorkshire area on suspicion of cultivating cannabis. All seven have been interviewed and released on conditional bail.

The local Neighbourhood Inspector for Hambleton, Rory Sadler said: “We received community intelligence suggesting there was a cannabis farm at the location, we conducted enquiries and were subsequently granted a warrant by magistrates. We executed the warrant and discovered a large, commercial scale cannabis farm. I’m grateful to the member of the public who contacted us with this information.

“The production of a cannabis grow on this scale causes significant issues for communities, as it is often linked to violence, exploitation and other forms of criminality. Illegal enterprises such as this will not be tolerated in North Yorkshire and we will always work to proactively remove them.

“As our inquiries continue, this significant operation is now firmly dismantled and shut down.”

Signs that might indicate a premises is being used as a cannabis farm include:

• The property might look empty or unlived in

• People and vehicles coming and going during the day and night

• Large boxes, pipes, Lighting equipment, plastic sheeting, bags of fertiliser or building materials are seen going into the premises at different times

• Fans which might be seen or heard by neighbours

• A smell of the plants on occasion which comes and goes

• Building work going on inside the premises.

If you see any further activity in the area please let North Yorkshire police know.

You can contact North Yorkshire Police by dialling 101 and passing on information to the control room.

Alternatively, you can remain anonymous by contacting Crime stoppers, an independent charity, on 0800 555 111.