Police have smashed a major drugs ring in south Derry.

By Connla Young

connla@derrypost.com

Almost 800 cannabis plants believed to be valued at approximately £300,000 were discovered after police raided a house at Lisgorgan Lane, Upperlands, on June 25.

The staggering haul was discovered after police swooped on the unoccupied house just outside the scenic village.

The undercover cultivation factory was sealed off for several days by drug squad detective.

No arrests were made during the operation.

A spokesman for the PSNI confirmed a large number of cannabis plants had been recovered during the operation.

It’s understood the raid was part of a wider probe into the drugs cultivation across the North by an Asian crime syndicate.

Since late last year 74 properties have been raided, 76 arrests have been made and 52 people have been charged. All are from south Eastern Asia.

In total 21,500 cannabis plants valued at £10.7 million have been recovered.

Police say 176 kilos of herbal cannabis valued at £1.7 million has also been recovered.

A police spokeswoman said: “It’s part of an investigation into the cultivation of cannabis in Northern Ireland.”

Feeny residents have voiced their concerns about trees which they say are overgrown and are a hazard to their health and safety.

By Orla McNicholl

orla@derrypost.com

Residents at Beechmount say that the trees, which are planted on private property surrounding the housing estate, must be cut down.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said that the trees were attracting rats and flies, and were a potential health hazard.

The resident called for immediate action: “These trees are shedding their needles leaving the ground covered in moss making it slippy.

“The kids can’t even go out to play at the back in case they fall and break a bone.

“The trees shed their needles and rats come and nest underneath them, we are also bothered with flies at this time of year and I believe it is the trees that are attracting them.

“All we want is for the trees to be trimmed, we’re not asking for them to be completely cut down.”

Another resident claims that the overgrown trees are putting people’s lives at risk as they make it hard for children and motorists to see to get across the road safely.