A TWO-week crackdown on organised crime has uncovered 28 cannabis farms with an estimated annual yield of more than £5 million.

In a co-ordinated campaign, Merseyside Police in St Helens, Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton and Knowsley seized 1,278 plants and arrested 18 in connection with growing cannabis.

The two-week crackdown aimed to damage organised crime networks by seizing drugs they were growing to fund other criminal activities, such as buying Class A drugs and firearms.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Richardson, said: “To have seized 1,278 plants bound for sale on the streets of Merseyside and further afield, and shut down cannabis farms capable of generating £5.1 million a year is a significant result for Merseyside Police.

“More importantly, it is a fantastic result for our communities where the criminals who set up these farms cause considerable misery.

"This is £5 million that will not be lining criminals' pockets, will not make them richer and will not help them commit more crime.

"Cannabis is an extremely damaging but profitable drug and the existence of cannabis farms in our communities has led to violence on our streets between rival gangs.

"Thanks to the public's help we have uncovered 28 farms and arrested 18 people and in doing so, disrupted the criminal activities of drugs gangs.

"I am sure these results will show the people of Merseyside just what we can achieve when we work together to stop drug dealing and drug supply blighting our communities."

Officers visited DIY stores, garden centres and hydroponics outlets to raise awareness of the types of purchases made by criminals looking to set up cannabis farms, such as large quantities of compost and other growing equipment.

Police spoke with letting agencies and landlords, as many cannabis growers take advantage of short-term tenancy agreements to grow the drug.

During the campaign, cannabis cultivations from smaller simple set-ups to large sophisticated farms were discovered and dismantled.

One of the largest was a 540-plant cannabis farm at a property in Walton Village, with an estimated annual yield of £2.1m.

Other items seized from properties include shotgun cartridges, Class A drugs and hidden cash.