Police Uncover Huge Cannabis Farm in Former Rochdale Shoe Store

Rochdale – A huge cannabis farm operating out of a derelict three-storey shoe store was dismantled by police in a pre-dawn raid on Friday.

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Officers discovered more than 400 plants, described as being, "almost ready for harvest", inside the former commercial building on Drake Street in Rochdale town centre. Two men have been arrested in connection with the sophisticated operation.

Teams from Greater Manchester Police swooped on the property before dawn, using angle grinders to cut their way through heavy-duty roller-shutter security doors to gain entry.

Once inside, police uncovered what they have called a 'large-scale' and professional setup. The building had been extensively modified across all three floors specifically for the cultivation of cannabis, with sophisticated lighting and irrigation systems in place.

A man aged in his 50s and another in his 20s were arrested at the scene. They are currently being questioned by detectives on suspicion of the cultivation of cannabis and the abstraction of electricity, a common tactic used to power high-intensity growing equipment without detection. Neither of the suspects has been named by police.

The raid marks a significant blow to organised crime in the area. In a statement, Greater Manchester Police sent a stern warning to criminal gangs.

“Organised crime groups think they can operate with impunity, but we’re sending a clear message: we will find these setups and shut them down”, a spokesperson said.

The plants will now be seized and destroyed, and the building will be made safe by specialists. The discovery has disrupted a significant criminal enterprise and prevented a large quantity of drugs from reaching the streets.