Cannabis factories 111/2026
FOI Reference: 111/26
Request:
- How many industrial-scale cannabis factories (those in vacant buildings that had been fitted out with specialized cannabis growing equipment, rather than in individuals’ homes) have been discovered in the Dyfed-Powys Police area in 2025?
- What were the figures for the years 2022/23? 2023/24? 2024/25?
- What was the value of the cannabis found in these factories?
- How many people have been arrested in connection with these factories?
- What is the police force doing to tackle this problem?
Clarification sought: What do you mean by “vacant buildings” and whether you are intending to exclude all residential properties, or are you specifically referring to non-residential or unoccupied premises?
Clarification received: https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/dyfed-powys/campaigns/operation-scotney/spotting-a-cannabis-farm.pdf - There is a definition provided by the force here in recent campaigns, therefore it would be very useful to receive a response.
Response 1:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.
25 Large-Scale Cannabis Farms
Response 2:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.
2022/23 – 9 Large-Scale Cannabis Farms
2023/24 – 23 Large-Scale Cannabis Farms
2024/25 – 34 Large-Scale Cannabis Farms
Response 3:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.
Total Street Value of Large-Scale Cannabis Farms - £18,834,309
Total Wholesale Value of Large-Scale Cannabis Farms - £3,569,490
Figures are an estimate based on the amount of cannabis seized from the large-scale cannabis farms.
Response 4:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.
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Response 5:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.
In 2023 Heddlu Dyfed-Powys Police created Operation Scotney. Operation Scotney was a scored/ mapped Force wide vulnerability focusing on large scale cannabis farms. The operation has been a priority for the local proactive drugs teams in each county of the Force for the last 3 years which has seen significant disruptions. The operation has worked with partners, key stakeholders and the local communities with regards identifying the signs and the mechanisms with which to report suspicious activity to Heddlu Dyfed-Powys Police and increasing local knowledge of the issues.
Furthermore, it should also be noted that Police forces in the United Kingdom are routinely required to provide crime statistics to government bodies and the recording criteria is set nationally. However, the systems used for recording these figures are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the crime data. It should be noted that for these reasons this force's response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other response you may receive.
(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 06/03/2026)