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Mar 2021

Crime

Cannabis farm 'under the noses' of Ripon residents

Published: 19 Mar 2021, 06:15 GMT

Updated: 19 Mar 2021, 08:33 GMT

by Tim Flanagan

Witnesses of the police raid at a business unit in the city have told the Stray Ferret that "the smell that came out of the building when they broke down the door was over-powering".

ripon-18th-march-unit-6-at-juniper-way-business-park

Residents and businesses in the Juniper Grove area of Ripon have been shocked to find a cannabis farm on their doorstep.

Witnesses, who did not want to be identified, have told the Stray Ferret about the police raid that unearthed the farm.

Officers broke in to unit 6 at Juniper Grove Business Park at around 11am on March 12 and found more than 50 plants on the premises.

A business owner who watched the raid, said:

"The smell that came out of the building when they broke down the door was over-powering."

They had assumed that legitimate activities were going on behind the roller shutter doors of the unit which had 'Micro Concrete' on its signage.

The business owner added:

"With the covid lockdown, everything around here is quiet at the moment, so it came as a bit of a shock when a large number of police suddenly arrived."

A resident, who lives near the eight-unit business park, pointed out:

"It was opened just over two years ago along with a new homes development.

"It's a former brown field industrial site, that has been transformed and improved through regeneration."

Another resident added:

"It came as a surprise to see so much police activity.

"Whatever has been going on at the unit, has clearly been happening under our noses."

Juniper Grove Business Park backs onto Ripon Grammar School in a predominantly residential area of Ripon.

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After the raid, Inspector Alex Langley of North Yorkshire Police, said:

“The damage that drugs cause to individuals and families is significant, and that’s why it’s important we take this pro-active approach to tackle drug issues Ripon.

“The use of industrial units in the Ripon area is of concern as criminals carry out illegal activity in plain sight.

“I would like to ask local business and premises owners to look out for any suspicious activity. Please let us know if something doesn’t feel quite right. The information you provide allows us to carry out this pro-active work in order to try and safeguard our local communities.”

Two men aged 36 and 38. have been arrested in connection with the find and released under investigation pending further enquiries

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Cannabis farm 'under the noses' of Ripon residents

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