On Monday, July 6, Officers were called to an address on Vicarage Hill, Flitwick, where a cannabis factory had been discovered and a suspect had made off on foot prior to police arrival, breaking through a neighbouring property to do so.
Over 100 plants across eight rooms were found.
A scene guard was in place over Monday night into the morning, before the electrics were made safe and officers dismantled and removed equipment, seized plants and ready-to-deal buds of the herb.
A criminal investigation is now taking place, following a number of forensic and digital leads.
The output of a cannabis factory should not be underestimated; a relatively small factory could have an output worth several thousand pounds.
Intelligence suggests that often this money goes on to fund other more serious forms of criminality.
It is common for cannabis factories to be operated by people who are not legally present within the UK.
Careful consideration must be given to people found at grow sites who may be there under duress and as a result of Human Trafficking or Modern Day Slavery.
A number of suspicious incidents in and around the area are being investigated following the discover.
A mass of intelligence has been gathered to support the police effort under #OperationBeckford to impact on the supply of controlled drugs within the Flitwick and Ampthill areas.
Anybody with any information about this case should contact Bedfordshire Police on 101, or Report Online or through Webchat at www.bedfordshire.police.uk.
You can also give information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111.
