Largest Scottish cannabis farm discovery this year found in West Lothian

The largest cannabis farm in Scotland was discovered in West Lothian this year according to police reports revealed this week.
Stock photo of a cannabis farm.Stock photo of a cannabis farm.
Stock photo of a cannabis farm.

At a West Lothian Council meeting this week, Sergeant Iain Wells emphasised the importance of community-led intelligence in tackling the drug trade.

And he also outlined figures for the last quarter of the year and revealed that 61 warrants had been issued by officers under the Misuse of Drugs Act in the last year.

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Sgt Wells told the latest meeting of Linlithgow Local Area Committee, held on Tuesday, that 13 of those warrants had been issued in the county in the last quarter of 2020-21, that is from January to March 31.

In his report to the local area committee he added: “We also explore all opportunities through Proceeds of Crime legislation with over £100,000 of cash and assets identified for restraint orders.

"A significant cultivation was uncovered within West Lothian with an approximate value of £750,000, estimated to be the largest cultivation discovery of its kind in Scotland this year.”

It appears that support from the local community enabled local police officers to make the discovery of the large cannabis farm in West Lothian, and continues to help local police officers tackle drug crime on our streets.

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Sgt Wells told the meeting: “We continue to develop drugs intelligence from the local community.

"Drugs enforcement requires information from sources to build a picture and fill in the pieces of the jigsaw and the use of community intelligence in this cannot be underestimated.”

Police Scotland also works with partnership agencies and West Lothian Council on reports of drug cultivation and drug use and supply issues raised by tenants across the county.

West Lothian officers continue to disrupt organised crime groups by targeting drugs supply offences, gathering intelligence.

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This includes working with UK Border Agency to target those involved in online drug purchases.

Thanks to this multi-agency approach, a substantial number of packages have been intercepted by police officers and investigations followed up, the police report said.