Early morning arrests at a Beddington Lane business uncover a ‘sophisticated’ drugs farm operated by an ‘organised crime group’, according to the Met
‘Sophisticated’: the Met discovered a cannabis farm, similar to this, when they raided a Beddington Lane car wash
Motorists using a car wash on Beddington Lane might have got more than they bargained for, after a police raid uncovered a vast cannabis factory being operated in premises behind the site.
Following a police raid in the early hours of Monday, August 24, crime scene tape remained around the car wash for far longer than might usually be expected for a routine investigation.
The car wash site is in a cluster of commercial and industrial businesses on Beddington Lane. First reports from the Met said that their officers had responded to an “aggravated burglary”, with nine males, aged 13 to 21, arrested at the scene. One man was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft. All were later bailed.
Crime scene: police remained at the scene on Beddington Lane for several days
But the site remained cordoned off for most of the rest of that week, and there was an increased police presence in the area, with dogs and forensic detectives on the scene.
The closure and the lengthy investigation aroused the curiosity of many locals.
Only yesterday did the real reason for the shutdown of part of the busy industrial estate emerge.
In a note sent to a Sutton Neighbourhood Watch group, Superintendent Rich Lloyd-Ablitt wrote: “While responding to the reported burglary, Sutton officers discovered a significant cannabis cultivation site at a premises on Beddington Lane.
“The factory was highly sophisticated, well-maintained and contained 632 cannabis plants at varying stages of maturity. The estimated street value of the plants is approximately £565,710.
“Through conversations with residents, we know that concerns about drug use and drug-related crime remain a priority for many people in Sutton. I appreciate that some of you may be concerned to learn that a cannabis factory of this scale was operating within our borough.
“Thanks to the proactive work of Sutton officers, a substantial quantity of drugs has been removed from circulation, the activities of an organised crime group have been significantly disrupted, and further crime and anti-social behaviour have been prevented.”
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