Man 'acting suspiciously' lead police to £1.6 million cannabis farm in disused shop

Credit: Merseyside Police

A cannabis factory thought to be worth around £1.6 million has been found in a disused furniture shop in Merseyside.

Police in Bootle say they noticed a man acting suspiciously outside a disused furniture shop at the junction of Beresford Street and Derby Road.

When they arrested the man and searched the address, they found 414 cannabis plants being grown, alongside a large amount of growing equipment.

This was found in a disused furniture shop. Credit: Merseyside Police

The man, aged 36 from Dingle, was arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation and has since been released under investigation.

The plants have since been recovered and the scene forensically examined.

Cannabis Dismantling Team Manager Matt Brown said this was an example of how police powers to carry out stop checks can help prevent criminal activity.

Growing equipment was also found at the scene Credit: Merseyside Police

Police say that anyone who suspects others of using a property for this purpose should contact their local police service.