A hell of a discovery that left Charles Reeves and his family stunned. This owner residing in north London was absent for several months abroad as part of his work and upon his return found no less than 10 tonnes of cannabis in his room, reports the BBC.
The man, who had posted an ad online before his departure, was approached by a real estate agent, who was supposed to rent his property to a family, with children, working for the city. But the real estate agent, like the tenants, turned out to be crooks. No rent was ever paid.
An elaborate ventilation and lighting system
It was only after obtaining a court order to enter his house, following unpaid rent, that Charles Reeves decided to go there. He then discovered that his house had been transformed into a cannabis farm. The men who opened the door fled in less than 30 minutes.
“I couldn’t believe what I saw,” describes the Briton. The occupants had notably installed an elaborate system of ventilation and lights to maintain optimal growing conditions for the plants. Police seized a total of more than 400 cannabis plants, with an estimated street value of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
More than 1,000 cannabis farms have been identified in London
Charles Reeves recorded a lot of damage in his house but was also very affected. “Emotionally, I feel like my home has been desecrated. (…) The damage, the dirt (…). It’s the first real house I’ve ever had. We are devastated,” says the father.
More than 1,000 cannabis farms have been recorded in London in recent years, with a total of 1,056 discovered between 2018 and 2023, according to police figures which are believed to be largely underestimated. “Criminals take advantage of the legal system and the long eviction process” of tenants, said former police officer Allen Morgan, interviewed by the BBC.
