Gerard Road: £1million cannabis farm uncovered on residential Rotherham street

The drug den was discovered after suspicons were raised about electricity usage at a property on Gerard Road, Wellgate.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson explained: “On May 9, we were contacted by Northern Powergrid who, following reports of suspicious electrical activity, had entered a property on Gerard Road in Wellgate, Rotherham.

“Inside the property, engineers found what was believed to be a cannabis farm, as well as evidence that the property occupants were dangerously and illegally bypassing electricity.

“Officers responded and discovered a cannabis cultivation containing approximately 1,000 plants spread across 10 rooms.”

Typically, each cannabis plant is valued at around £1,000, making the grow worth up to £1million.

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The South Yorkshire Police spokesperson added: “Later that day, response officers sighted a suspicious vehicle reportedly circling the area nearby and requested it to stop.

“The vehicle had allegedly been stolen from London and inside the car, officers found a key to the property containing the cannabis cultivation.

“A quantity of money and equipment consistent with cannabis production was also reportedly found within the vehicle.”

Two 34-year-old men and a 33-year-old man were subsequently arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and theft of a motor vehicle.

All three have been bailed pending further enquiries.