Police Find Cannabis Farm In Camden Spare Room

A middle-aged Camden man, who turned his spare room into a cannabis farm, while also peddling heroin and crack cocaine, has been jailed.

Michael Ryan, 59, of Cranleigh Street, has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

At Wood Green Crown Court he pleaded guilty to the cultivation of cannabis, plus possession, with intent to supply, heroin and crack cocaine.

The court heard that on Friday, March 27, officers from the Central North Gangs unit executed an intelligence-led search warrant at Ryan’s address following information from the public.

At the address they discovered 193 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine with a value of around £2,000, as well as a cannabis farm containing sixty mature cannabis plants.

The cannabis farm had been hidden in a spare room disguised as a built-in cupboard in an attempt to conceal it.

The electricity meter had been by-passed, which was a fire hazard and danger to neighbours.

Detective Sergeant Richard Greenwood, of the Central North Gangs unit, said: “Information from the public is crucial and in this case, led to drugs being taken off the street and a fire hazard being removed.

“This search warrant which subsequently led to Ryan’s arrest and conviction is just one example of the proactive policing work which is taking place across Camden and Islington.

“Drug supply is totally unacceptable and drives much of the violence we see across the boroughs, which is why it’s so important that Cannabis farms like this one are destroyed.

“We will continue to use all the different tactics available to us to reduce anti-social behaviour in Camden and Islington and bring those involved in criminality to justice.”