Police find cannabis factory hidden in deserted City of London building

Drug dealing criminals have taken advantage of the deserted streets in London’s normally hectic financial district by setting up the area’s first ever cannabis factory.

City of London Police were called to a commercial premises in the Square Mile close to the Bank of England last week following reports of a strong smell coming from the building.

When officers gained entry to the basement of the property they found a sophisticated cannabis growing operation complete with a dedicated lighting, irrigation and ventilation system.

They also found 826 cannabis plants, worth more than £350,000, which have now been destroyed.

The building in question is a commercial premises in Throgmorton Street, a thoroughfare which was once home to the London stock exchange.

The force said it was the first time they had encountered a cannabis factory in the City which in normal times is packed with workers during office hours, but has been virtually deserted since the start of the pandemic last March.

It is thought those behind the enterprise had hoped to take advantage of quiet streets, empty offices and lack of traffic to cultivate their crop undetected.

The illegal cannabis market in the UK is worth an estimated £1 billion a year but many of those who help grow the crops are trafficked into the UK from overseas, often Vietnam.

Police said they had made two arrests as part of the investigation and the cannabis factory had now been dismantled with the equipment destroyed.

Temporary Detective Inspector Andy Spooner, who is leading the investigation, said: "This is the first cannabis factory in the City, no doubt being set up in response to fewer people being out and about during the pandemic who might have noticed any unusual activity.

"However, this demonstrates that City of London Police continues to actively police the Square Mile, bearing down on any crime committed here. We have made two arrests and our enquiries continue."