The dramatic moment when police pick up a bungalow in Mapperley and find a £ 1million cannabis ‘factory’

Police body camera footage shows the dramatic moment when officers raided a bungalow in Mapperley and found a full-scale ‘factory’ containing around £ 1million of cannabis inside.

Officers found more than 1,400 plants on the Lucknow Drive property, which they attended on September 10.

Plants were crammed into several rooms across the secluded, secluded bungalow.

The plants were washed away and destroyed, and an array of sophisticated growing equipment was taken out of service.

CS Spray, a telescopic baton and a quantity of cash were also seized.

Jevgenij Babkov, 24, and Noyus Kastenas, 20, were both arrested at the scene.

When questioned by officers, they admitted to looking after the factories, but claimed they had been employed by others to live and work at the address.

The two then admitted cannabis production charges and appeared in Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, November 12.

Babkov, formerly of Lucknow Drive, was jailed for a year and 10 months.

Kastenas, also formerly of Lucknow Drive, was jailed for one year and six months.

Residents of the quiet, leafy street said they were surprised at the time.

PC Brian Dacunha, who led the investigation, said: “Acting on the basis of local intelligence, we executed a warrant against a large detached bungalow.

“The building had been transformed into a very large, sophisticated and profitable drug factory, with mature cannabis plants in several rooms of the house.

“As is the case with most similar cannabis crops, the electricity on the property had been bypassed and left in a very dangerous state.”

Inspector Karl Thomas, local Nottinghamshire Police Commander, added: “Tackling drug-related crime is a top priority for the local police team.

“I am aware, however, that some people still feel that it is ‘just a little weed’ and that we should focus on different issues.

“But in reality, this kind of large-scale growth is very often linked to ruthless organized criminal gangs at home and abroad whose members will not hesitate to resort to extreme acts of violence to protect their investment from harm. other equally ruthless criminals. “