‘Weed out’ those criminals supplying cannabis in Scotland

I saw in the news yesterday how a staggering £3 million worth of cannabis was seized by police in Scotland. It makes Granny Robyn very pleased to see such a tremendous victory in the fight against crime! Especially as the four men found to be supplying the huge stock of cannabis are now where they belong – behind bars!

But it raises the question; where does the cannabis come from in the first place?

Well, in recent years the Scottish Police Service has uncovered a growing number of cultivations in both rural and urban areas of Scotland where cannabis is being grown on a commercial scale.

Luckily, Scotland Crimestoppers have responded to the problem by launching the national ‘Weed Them Out’ campaign. The campaign highlights the tell-tale signs to look out for to catch those people growing cannabis. It’s very important that we all keep a watchful eye out for cannabis cultivations as they are often found in residential areas.

Some of the signs to look out for are:

• The windows of the property are permanently covered from the inside, often with foil or bin bags. There may be a build up of condensation on the glass.


• Pungent smells may emanate from the premises, or excessive use of air fresheners or moth balls to disguise the aroma.
  
• Noise coming from equipment on the premises, e.g. fans or heaters.


• There may be vents coming out of the roof or rear windows.


• The cannabis or by-products, such as used fertiliser, may be removed in black bin bags, laundry bags or suitcases.


• Tenants do not live on the premises and only make short visits, daily or weekly to maintain them.


• Powerful lights on all day or night.


• Compost bags or gardening equipment may be left outside the rear of the premises.


• Visits to the premises can occur at unusual times of the day or night.

If you would like to give information anonymously about a possible cannabis cultivation or any other crime you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or fill out our untraceable online Giving Information Form.

Busted! Police find drugs growing in an old school bus

On I spy a crime we often highlight examples of criminals doing stupid things, like the Dutchman who reported his Ecstasy collection as stolen. Today I've read a story about some crims who seem a little more creative than your average crook.

Three men in North Carolina have been caught growing marijuana plants in, of all places, an underground school bus. The bus was buried eight feet into the ground, underneath a garden shed. Lenoir County Sheriff's Office says they had been looking for the source of the area's marijuana for years and had previously tried spotting the plants using a helicopter. It was only when a police dog fell through a disguised trap door to the bus that the underground loot of 68 plants was discovered.

Usually cannabis factories are easier to spot than this. These days police regularly use heat sensoring technology to detect them from the air, but they still need to be pointed in the right direction by the public. Watch the video below about the tell-tale signs so you can keep your eyes peeled.