Dyfed-Powys Police has taken £12 million worth of cannabis off the streets after successfully disrupting 37 commercial-sized cannabis farms over the past year.

The raids, which targeted former schools, vacant town centre shops, and even a disused newspaper office, led to 35 arrests. The operation, named Scotney, was launched in response to the rising threat posed by organised crime gangs establishing large-scale cannabis factories across the region.

Part of a broader strategy by proactive policing teams in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and Powys, Operation Scotney is proving to be the force’s most successful drugs operation to date. Along with the cannabis, officers seized tonnes of heating and lighting equipment used in these commercial farms.

Explaining how the operation came to be, Detective Chief Inspector Rich Lewis said: “Through proactive policing work taking place across the force, it came to our attention that a number of large scale cannabis factories were being discovered in seemingly unconnected areas. We’re talking about thousands of plants being seized during each warrant, which for us was highly unusual.

“It was established fairly quickly that these factories were in fact linked, in that the people we suspected to be responsible were believed to have been recruited by organised crime gangs from outside the force area, hoping to go undetected in our rural towns.

“Given the size of the factories and the quantities of cannabis being discovered, we knew we needed to take firm action, and so Operation Scotney was launched at the beginning of 2024.”

Led by the force’s Criminal Investigation Department, Operation Scotney sees detectives, intelligence experts and proactive policing officers work together to establish where the factories are being set up, and to swoop in and disrupt them before the cannabis grows can be cultivated.

So far, 37 warrants have been executed in the four divisions, with tens of thousands of plants discovered.

DCI Lewis explained that these factories are not being set up in hidden away places, where criminals can come and go undetected, but in public areas, town centres and even on the same street as a police station.

“What has been incredible, alongside the amount of cannabis we have discovered being grown, is the brazen approach those responsible have taken,” said DCI Lewis.

“We’ve seen former schools, empty shops, and a former newspaper office used as cannabis factories, and a number of these were in town centres where it would be very difficult to go unnoticed. This led us to believe the gangs are using bold tactics such as disguising themselves as construction workers or landlords to enter and leave these buildings without raising suspicions.

“Their tactic was to hide in plain sight - who would suspect that someone wearing a high visibility vest carrying large boxes into a disused building in broad daylight could be setting up a cannabis factory?

“The fact that 400 plants were found just four doors down from the police station in Newcastle Emlyn just goes to show their determination to carry out their criminal endeavours – but our determination to stop them is greater.”

Over the course of a year, 35 people have been arrested and charged under Operation Scotney: 29 of these have been jailed, four are awaiting sentencing, two are yet to enter a plea, and two additional people have been deported following arrest.

As officers continue their work, they are asking members of the public to be vigilant, to be aware of the signs that a cannabis factory is operating, and to report any concerns to the force.

“We have openly shared the results of Operation Scotney warrants, and will continue to do so as we enter 2025,” said DCI Lewis.

“It has proven to be a very successful operation so far, and we’re making great strides towards the force priority of making the Dyfed-Powys area hostile to those who deal drugs.

“We will continue our work to tackle the vulnerability posed by these gangs, and we will act on any intelligence supplied by the public that could assist us in achieving this aim.

“Alongside this, we will have a focus on those individuals enabling this criminal activity to take place in their properties. By this we mean investigating people renting or leasing premises without due diligence, those supplying electrical goods and hardware including hydroponics, and anyone profiting from this endeavour.”

The most frequent signs of a cannabis factory are:

• HEAT: Cannabis plants need heat to grow. You may see condensation on windows or notice that ice and snow is missing on rooftops in the winter.

• SMELL: Cannabis plants have a strong smell, which is stronger in the last three months of growth.

• RUBBISH: Lots of ‘garden’ rubbish dumped outside such as plant pots, compost and empty plant food containers.

• LIGHT: Cannabis needs bright lights 24 hours a day to grow. You may also hear noise from fans.

• SECRECY: Windows might be covered up to hide illegal activity, or extra locks installed.

• ELECTRICITY: Your street may be suffering from frequent and unusual power cuts as electricity meters are bypassed.

• VISITORS: Are people coming and going, possibly at odd hours? Are the lights constantly on but nobody appears to be there?

If you have any information or concerns to share, contact Dyfed-Powys Police in the following ways:

Call | 101

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org