The Ballards Lane flat in Finchley, North London, which had been converted into a cannabis factory and was listed for auction with growing equipment and paraphernalia still in place, has been sold in just eight working days. Auction House London reported an unprecedented level of attention for the property, which had ventilation pipes and wiring still hanging from the ceiling. The flat was purchased by a developer who intends to refurbish it into two apartments for resale. Despite the planned auction date of March 15, the property was sold earlier due to the scale of interest it generated. An honest listing of the two-bedroom flat revealed that it had recently been used to grow cannabis and required refurbishment.
A virtual tour video showed plant pots on the floor and aluminium foil on the walls, which was used to reflect and amplify the power of growing lights to increase cannabis yield. Auctioneers stated that “the property has been recently used to grow cannabis and requires a program of refurbishment.” The property had been given planning permission by Barnet Council in 2022 to convert it into two flats, with no mention of any illegal drug activity. It remains unclear when the flat was converted into a cannabis factory. The police were aware of the factory and involved in shutting it down, according to a spokesperson, but no further details were given.
Cannabis in The UK
The maximum sentence for growing any part of a cannabis plant in the UK, where the drug is classified as class B, is 14 years in prison. Those who work in cannabis factories are often victims of human trafficking and modern slavery. Senior investigating officer Neil Gardiner of the National Crime Agency called on the public to report any suspicions of exploitation or illegal activity related to modern slavery.
