A semi-detached house concealing a large cannabis farm that had caused complaints in Stretford has now been shut down.
Trafford Council’s Community Safety Team gained entry the premises on Milton Road last week with Greater Manchester Police before attending court to secure the closure order.
Action was part of Operation AVRO, a day of enforcement action that also involved under-age sales checks on retailers in Trafford.
Local people complained about the strong-smelling three-bedroom house and drug dealing in its immediate surroundings, leading the police and the Council to take out a warrant to conduct a search.
They discovered a large cannabis farm with 303 plants in total at different stages of maturity as well as evidence of a previous crop having been harvested. A man at the address was arrested and charged and the house was secured.
The property contained one small single bed and a substantially modified electricity system to support the crop with bare wires running across walls. It has since been disconnected from the network.
Registered tenants at the house were not present, nor was there any accommodation suggesting they lived there.
On hearing from Pelumi Coker of Trafford Council’s legal team and Ian Underhill from Community Safety, District Judge Blakeborough at Manchester Magistrates Court granted a full closure order for three months.
The order allows the landlord and their managing agent, neither of whom are suspected of any involvement, to enter the premises. All other persons are forbidden.
A spokesperson for Trafford Council said:
“This closure represents great teamwork and partnership working between the Council and the police, to protect the community from this focus of crime and antisocial behaviour.”
Meanwhile, two 15-year-old volunteers working on behalf of Trafford Council Trading Standards were turned away from shops in the borough when they tried to buy fireworks, vapes and knives this week, showing vigilance among retailers.
Trading Standards officers targeted retailers selling age-restricted products, including fireworks, vapes, and knives. A total of 10 premises were visited as part of Operation AVRO.
Officers were pleased that the test purchasing exercise resulted in just one illegal sale of a vape to a minor. No sales of fireworks or knives were made during the operation.
The Council will now take appropriate enforcement action against the business that sold the vape. These checks form part of the Council’s commitment to protect young people and ensure businesses comply with the law.
Selling age-restricted products such as vapes, fireworks, and knives to anyone under the legal age can result in fines, prosecution, and loss of premises licence. Retailers must always ask for proof of age and operate a robust age verification policy.