Police have shut down a massive cannabis factory on a busy street in the city of Cardiff. Officers disassembled the 420-plant farm on a property on City Road on Friday, July 29.
The force gained entry into the site after receiving information. They found a man in the attic causing damage to the roof, climbing out onto the roof and onto the roof of the Ernest Willows bar adjacent and destroying a roof tile in the process.
Every room on the property had been converted into a cannabis factory where hundreds of plants were being grown. Ronaldo Vidhani, 22, was detained and charged with making a controlled substance and causing criminal damage. He was ordered to remain in custody pending a Cardiff Crown Court hearing after making an appearance at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
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Pictures collected at the scene show an impressive growing set-up in a huge room, complete with towering cannabis plants in pots and overhead lamps. The property has since been made safe by Western Power and the cannabis has been destroyed, police added.
Announcing the news of the raid on Sunday, the force said the discovery was down to a “proactive team effort” from its Cardiff Organised Crime Team and Dogs section. It comes after authorities shut down a cannabis factory of comparable size on Richmond Road in July.
In a statement issued online, South Wales Police said: “Excellent proactive #teamwork from the Cardiff Organised Crime Team & Dog Section @SWPDogsHorses which led to the discovery & dismantling of a large 420 plant cannabis factory on City Road.”
Excellent Proactive #TeamWork from the Cardiff Organised Crime Team & Dog Section @SWPDogsHorses which led to the discovery & dismantling of a large 420 plant Cannabis factory on City Road. 1 male arrested for production of Cannabis. He was charged and remanded ^538
Occ.*254483 pic.twitter.com/SjtyBwDnpu— South Wales Police Cardiff (@SWPCardiff) July 31, 2022
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“1 guy was arrested for the production of cannabis.” He was charged and remanded.
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “On Friday, July 29, officers gained entry to a property in City Road following information received. A man was discovered in the attic, causing damage to the roof before climbing out onto the roof and onto the top of the adjoining Ernest Willows tavern, where he damaged a roof tile.
A cordon was erected and a 22-year-old man was apprehended and arrested for cannabis growing and criminal damage. The entire building had been turned into a cannabis factory, with each room housing approximately 420 cannabis plants.
“Western Power has secured the site, and the cannabis has been destroyed.” Ronaldo Vidhani, 22, of City Road, Roath, was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance and criminal damage and appeared in Cardiff Magistrates’ Court yesterday, August 1. He was remanded in custody until a hearing on August 26 at Cardiff Crown Court.
