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In September 2022, Seargent Tony Snow and a team of officers from the Neighbourhoods Team were tasked to focus on finding cannabis farms in Hartlepool.
Since then, the team have carried out 52 complex investigations; applying for search warrants and planning operations to target suspicious properties, seize drugs and arrest suspects.
34-year-old Gentian Gjergi is wanted on suspicion of production of cannabis in connection with the cannabis farm located in Stanhope Avenue in Hartlepool in October 2022. (Image: Picture: CLEVELAND POLICE)
By gathering intelligence whilst out on patrol, receiving vital information on suspicious activity from the community and a host of other tactics, the team have arrested more than 50 people on suspicion of the production of drugs.
They also seized £12 million pounds worth of cannabis and other drugs and removed a host of dangerous weapons from the town including knives, swords and machetes.
Often these drug producing farms include dangerous electrical set ups, posing a significant fire risk to neighbouring properties in the communities.
Cannabis farm worth £700,000
Recoveries include a cannabis farm worth £700,000 discovered on the top floor of a property in York Road in the town centre in February 2023.
The electrical set up produced a temperature so hot in the room of production, that officers had to leave the room as they could not withstand the heat.
27-year-old Shahini Mishel is wanted for production of cannabis in connection with a cannabis farm located on Brenda Road in the town in November 2023. (Image: Picture: CLEVELAND POLICE)
A drone was used at the time to show thermal images of just how hot the property was.
Cannabis from worth £350,000
Another cannabis farm was discovered in Stanhope Avenue in the town in October 2022, where a large farm valued at around £350,000 was discovered.
Major intervention was required at the time from Northern Powergrid to make the property safe after suspects had wired the production equipment to a streetlight, placing wires underneath the pavement.
This made it dangerous for people simply walking down the street, along with the huge fire risk these electrics posed.
“Worrying for our communities”
Hartlepool District Commander, Superintendent Alan O’Donoghue said: “It’s important for our communities and those living in Hartlepool that our teams identify the location of these illegal operations and dismantle them.
“Setting up cannabis farms in residential properties often leads to significant antisocial behaviour issues including strong odours, people often coming and going at all hours, and unhygienic conditions such as rubbish accumulating outside.
“What is even more worrying for our communities, is that these production factories and dangerous electrical set up presents a significant risk of fire to neighbouring properties.
“This work has not only removed drugs and weapons from the streets of Hartlepool, but has disrupted organised criminal activities, reducing crime across the town.
25-year-old Kevi Alla is wanted on suspicion of production cannabis in connection with a cannabis farm located in Thornton Street in February 2024. (Image: Picture: CLEVELAND POLICE)
“From drug production and dealing, to the violence associated with this criminal lifestyle, as well as crimes committed by those struggling with addiction and exploitation by dealers, these cannabis farms significantly contribute to overall crime levels.”
More recently the team uncovered a large cannabis farm on an industrial estate in the town. The farm, which was located on Greythorpe Industrial Estate on Friday 22nd November, is believed to be valued at around £1.3 million. Five men have since been charged with production of cannabis and have appeared at court.
There are some outstanding suspects wanted in connection with some of these cannabis farms who officers are still trying to trace. They could be anywhere in the country and could have even travelled back to Albania.
“}]] A Hartlepool team of police officers and police community support officers have seized £12m worth of drugs, cash and weapons in a little over two years. Read More
