Police Find Hundreds of Cannabis Plants in 78-Year-Old Luton Man’s Sublet Home

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 24

Hundreds of cannabis plants were found in Yehia Hassan’s Luton house after police raided it and a neighbouring property, leaving the 78-year-old’s home gutted while he was in hospital in Egypt.
Hassan, who has diabetes and uses a wheelchair, says repairs will cost tens of thousands of pounds after renters rewired the property, stole electricity and tore through walls, ceilings and furniture.
Bedfordshire Police said no suspects have been identified, but the force is pursuing new lines of inquiry and has already secured its first conviction in a case involving illegal subletting for cannabis cultivation.
Bedfordshire officers have seized cannabis plants worth about £6 million from residential properties over the past three years, as police warn professional enablers and some estate agents are helping criminal networks exploit rental homes.
National police leaders say about 90% of cannabis circulating in the UK is grown in rented homes, tying the damage to Hassan’s house to a wider organised-crime problem.