Cannabis farm discovered in Alloway

Aug 28 2009 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

DRUG cops swooped on a plush Alloway home and found a massive cannabis farm.

More than 400 plants were uncovered in the five bedroom detached home in Longhill Avenue.

The drugs, with an estimated street value of £120,000, were found when police officers and the serious crime squad raided the house last Wednesday morning.

A 25-year-old has been arrested and charged in connection with the drugs raid.

Ping Li, of no fixed abode, made no plea or declaration when he appeared in private at Ayr Sheriff Court on Thursday morning.

Li was charged with producing a controlled drug, namely cannabis.

He was remanded in custody.

The raid was part of Operation League, a national operation targeting South East Asian organised crime groups involved in the cultivation of commercial cannabis throughout Scotland.

Since the operation started in October last year, 104 cannabis cultivations have been discovered and 78 people have been arrested.

More than 48,000 plants have been recovered with an estimated street value of £14.4 million.

Bob Lauder, regional director of the serious organised crime agency, said: “Today’s seizure shows the UK is not a soft environment for criminals.

“This is an excellent result for our partnership with Strathclyde police and other Scottish law enforcement agencies.

“Together with our international and UK partners we are tightening the net.”