Inspector Roy Robinson pictured with a previous drugs haul
CRIMINAL gangs from across the UK are using parts of rural Fermanagh to grow “high quality” cannabis in drug farms which is being sold on to other parts of the North.
Fermanagh’s Chief Inspector Roy Robinson made the startling revelation after a recent police crackdown on drug factories and smaller facilities in the county over the last four months.
He added that Fermanagh has its “fair share” of drugs factories where drug gangs rent out properties in rural areas where they are able to operate discreetly and by-pass thousands of pounds worth of electricity.
He also described how they would cut air vents in the ceilings of rented properties leaving them in a “dire mess”.
In eight weeks police here searched 234 properties, made 50 arrests and 17 seizures across the F District which covers Fermanagh as part of a campaign to stamp out street-level drugs and drug dealing.
Mr Robinson said: “It’s certainly something that has an impact on the rural Fermanagh area where it’s not as noticeable to members of the public where windows are blacked out and bypass electricity running up bills of £30,000 and someone has to pay that.
“Thankfully members of the public have been a great help and we found that in Old Rossorry they were using it as a factory and bringing it back to Belfast. That one was a tremendous find which was high quality cannabis that was being used by criminal gangs from right across the UK and you never thought they would use a place like Old Rossorry in that sort of activity.
“The criminal gangs would cut air vents in the ceilings of rented houses and leaving them in a dire mess and what landlords might get in rent will never cover the damage that these people cause.
“We have, in Fermanagh, uncovered so many places which are growing these cannabis factories.
“Some of these criminals are living off their proceeds which is massive. They live in big houses, go off on holidays to Spain and cruises on ships and way above their means.
“People now are becoming a lot more aware of people with lamps and compost and pots, they become a lot more aware to what is going on. The community is the eyes and ears of what is going on.
“You could never say it’s completely stamped out but certainly people are a lot more aware of the activity going on. People are growing it at different rates from five or six plants to large factories.”
Chief Inspector Joe McMinn, said: “We have invested a considerable amount of time and effort into this operation.
“Although this operation has concluded, drugs will remain a policing priority. We will continue to disrupt and arrest those involved in the sale and supply of drugs, bring individuals before the courts and work with communities and partner agencies to reduce the threat of harmful and illegal activity.
“We would continue to ask communities to provide us with information about illegal drugs. If you tell us, we will act on it.”
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