[420 Girl]

TWO East Lancashire firms were raided by police investigating businesses suspected of encouraging cannabis production.

Detectives swooped on New Age Hydroponics, Sandy Lane, Lower Darwen, and Bopps.com, Hall Street, central Burnley today.

Four other businesses were raided across the county and 12 people were arrested.

They were last night being quizzed on suspicion of incitement to produce cannabis and related offences.

Detetive Chief Inspector Steve Mounsey, of Lancashire Police’s serious and organised crime squad, said: “The premises targeted have been selected as they are locations where it is suspected hydroponics equipment has been knowingly sold or offered for sale for the sole purpose of producing cannabis.

“The fact that these premises exist in five towns within Lancashire and we suspect they provide everything necessary, including cannabis seeds, carbon filters for the purpose of disguising smell and books on cannabis production, illustrates the scale of the problem.

“We are also concerned that there are grounds to suspect some proprietors have expanded into internet sales of similar equipment.

“What has concerned us is the overt nature of these premises. Some of them are in town centre locations and it is almost as if they are condoning this kind of activity.

“That is completely the wrong message to send out as far as we are concerned.”

The other raids took place in Preston, at City Hydroponics, Great Shaw Street, and the Legendary Willy Banjos, on Lothian Street, Little Amsterdam in Springfield Road, Blackpool, and a unit on the South Ribble Enterprise Park in Walton-le-Dale.

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