Cannabis factory seizure hailed as ‘double success’

Police seized the plants, which have a potential street value of £9,000, from a derelict property on the Derriaghy Road on Tuesday evening.

Heat lamps and a number of other items used in the cultivation of cannabis were also recovered.

Derriaghy Youth Club worker, Jim McLaughlin told the Star that the two youth club members approached him after they spotted a light on inside the derelict building.

“They came to me and they asked me what they should do. I contacted the police and around 11 o’clock at night they were on the scene.

“Eighteen months ago it would never have happened; those kids would not have felt they could have come forward about that. It shows the change in attitudes,” he said.

Mr McLaughlin, who is also chairman of Derriaghy Community Association, said the youth club and association were helping to improve community relations in the area and had been thanked by police for the tip-off. “It just shows that young people have a level of trust and that the community association is delivering for them. We have between 30-40 kids coming through the doors of both denominations.

“Thanks to the two kids, 18 cannabis plants which would have poisoned the community, and other communities, have been taken off the streets.”

Lagan Valley MLA Jonathan Craig praised the two boys for coming forward and the role the community association had in the cannabis factory seizure. “By working together, these cannabis plants have been taken off the streets,” said the DUP member.

The message was reiterated by Lisburn North Councillor Ronnie Crawford who said police were currently doing a “good job on the clampdown on drugs”.

“I hope this will continue to be the case. And I would appeal to anyone with information to contact the police. I also hope arrests will be made in connection to this seziure.”

A PSNI spokesman said police inquiries were ongoing and no arrests had yet been made.