Charlton cannabis factory stuffed with 850 plants closed in police drugs operation

A CANNABIS factory in Greenwich which was packed with 850 illegal plants was closed as part of a major drug raid across the capital last week.

The warehouse in Charlton was shut down along with thirty seven other cannabis hothouses in London under a 2,000-strong police team for Operation Hawk last Thursday [September 20].

More than £2m worth of cannabis was seized across 32 boroughs along with class A drugs, weapons and cash totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The crack-down follows a renewed police call to the public to come forward with information about who may be selling or cultivating drugs in their area.

Met Police operational lead for Operation Hawk Commander Mak Chishty said: "This has been an enormously successful day of action- but isn't confined to just one day of activity - this is a renewed emphasis on local policing teams tackling street level drug dealing and associated crime using local community intelligence and a wide range of tactics and assorted activities.

"Drug dealing damages communities. It generates crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. The MPS is determined to tackle this issue head on by bringing together our resources to reclaim and help repair areas affected by drug dealing.

"To help us do this, we need to encourage communities to talk to us and report concerns, and we will reward this trust by delivering swift results and telling people what action we have taken. Community intelligence passed to us will be dealt with as quickly as possible and carefully assessed before any action taken.

He added: "With your help we can make your local neighbourhood safer. You make the call, we'll make it stop."

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or dial the police non emergency number 101.