Blast fear at drug farm

POLICE are warning the public to be vigilant after electricity was by-passed to power a cannabis farm in Oldham.

Officers from GMP’s Organised Crime Unit at Oldham executed a warrant last Thursday at a property in Worseley Street, Glodwick and discovered 184 cannabis plants.

Further investigation found that the electricity had been by-passed.

Phong Phun (34) and Dung Boio (35) were arrested on suspicion of producing controlled drugs and were remanded in custody to appear at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on March 24.

Electricity North-West engineer Ian Whitehead, on his last day of 28 years’ service before retirement, said “The way this electricity had been by-passed was so dangerous that it was like a bomb waiting to go off.

“The by-pass was done by the side of the gas supply and had the poor wiring system short-circuited, I would have expected the whole row of terraced houses to explode.”

A police spokesman said: “We are determined to rid our communities of all drugs but we cannot do this alone and we need the public’s support to continue to provide us with information about illegal activity in their neighbourhood.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161-856 9002, 101, or Crimestoppers, on 0800-555 111.





Det-Sgt Richard Arthern, of the Organised Crime Unit, said: “The danger caused by by-passing electricity is not to be underestimated — it could have caused devastation to a whole street.

“I would urge people to be vigilant and I would ask that you contact police if you have any suspicions about a neighbour or someone you know by-passing electricity.