Half-a-million-pound Fen Cannabis Find Lands Man In Jail

The discovery of a cannabis farm in Fenland worth more than half-a-million-pounds has resulted in a man being jailed.

Officers from the force’s Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) and Special Constabulary (volunteer police officers) paid a visit to Fen View in Doddington on 20 June after receiving information about suspicious activity in the area.

The officers were immediately drawn to the strange condition of a property which had all its curtains drawn at 5pm in the middle of summer, the clear sound of fans coming from inside and a distinct smell of cannabis in the air.

They knocked on the front door and had no reply but saw 42-year-old Sean Riley in the kitchen – he let officers in and was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis.

Inside, almost every room had been converted for use in the large-scale cannabis production, containing 661 plants, more than 10kg of harvested cannabis and 111g of cannabis resin all with a value of up to £656,425.

Riley, of St James’ Lane in Muswell Hill, Greater London, was charged with producing cannabis, possession of cannabis and possession with intent to supply cannabis, all of which he admitted in court.

He was jailed for two years at Peterborough Crown Court on Monday.

Detective Constable Rhian Jones, who investigated, said: “This house stood out to officers who acted on their instincts and found a substantial cannabis factory which has now removed a significant amount of drugs from our streets.

“Members of the public are a vital part of policing as the eyes and ears of our communities – if something doesn’t seem right, it more often than not isn’t which is why I would encourage anyone with concerns to get in touch with us.”