Retired Officer Discovers Cannabis Factory in Her Own Property

A retired police officer was left astonished when she discovered a cannabis factory operating in her vacant property located on Maymount Street in East Belfast. The incident occurred last week when she visited the house to assess needed repairs, only to find that the locks had been changed and unfamiliar blinds were hanging in the windows.

The officer had left the property empty for a couple of years due to its poor condition and was preparing to refurbish it. Gaining access through a back alleyway, she encountered an overpowering scent of cannabis. Upon entering, she found nearly every room filled with cannabis plants. A man, who had been sleeping in a shed in the backyard, fled the scene as soon as she arrived. Neighbors later informed her that they had frequently seen him at the property.

The discovery revealed extensive alterations made to the house, including holes drilled into the floors, ceilings, and chimney to accommodate ventilation for the cannabis operation.

“I thought the house was completely secure,” the officer stated in an interview with Belfast Live. “We even put nails into the front door to ensure it was locked.” She expressed disbelief at the transformation her property had undergone, noting, “Once I got into the rear alley, there was a very strong smell of cannabis… nearly every room was full of them.”

The officer raised concerns about inadequate police response to the situation. She noted that an officer informed her that such illicit activities have become increasingly common in Northern Ireland, with Airbnbs often being misused for similar purposes.

“It seemed to me that the officers were not too interested in the factory,” she commented. “I would have thought they would try and take a more proactive approach than ‘we will see what happens’.” She referenced invoices linked to the cannabis operation that had not been collected as evidence and claimed that no officers had spoken with neighbors.

Police Inspector Connolly confirmed that a report was received at approximately 11:30 AM on November 5, 2025, after the homeowner reported her shocking discovery. Officers subsequently conducted a search of the house, uncovering more than 40 cannabis plants in two upstairs bedrooms, along with an additional 50 plants in the attic and around 40 plants in the living room, as well as various drug-related paraphernalia.

“No one was in the property at the time of the search,” Inspector Connolly noted, adding that the investigation is ongoing. He urged anyone with information related to the case to contact the police’s non-emergency number, quoting reference number 564 of 05/11/25.

The retired officer’s experience sheds light on the growing issue of illegal drug cultivation in residential areas, raising questions about safety and community vigilance in addressing such crimes.