Massive cannabis raid

Feb 9 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

POLICE who raided a Wearside factory discovered one of Britain’s biggest-ever cannabis farms.

More than 1,000 plants, with a street value of almost £0.5m, were seized when police swooped on the property in Pearson’s Industrial Estate, Hetton-le-Hole.

The raid, on Thursday evening, brings the curtain down on a long-term police surveillance operation.

Plants were in various stages of growth, ranging from seedlings to fully mature bushes.

Also recovered from the drugs farm was a range of sophisticated heating and lighting equipment that was being used in the “professional” operation.

Kevin Jones, manager at nearby JJ Transport, said he could not believe what had happened.

The 44-year-old, whose unit is across from the scene of the raid, said: “There was a load of police cars, and there were plainclothes police officers.

“They brought vans and they were carrying out the plants.

“Our business is literally 30 yards away from the unit that they are searching and we didn’t have a clue that there would be a drugs farm there.

“We knew the guy who owned it, and I thought he was a builder, and as far as we were concerned it was a building company.

“It’s a shock to the local businesses because you don’t expect that on your doorstep.”

Police have arrested a 48-year-old man and a 46-year-old-woman on suspicion of conspiring to supply drugs.

And a 27-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis.

The raid comes only a week after police recovered £36,000 worth of cannabis, along with lamps and heating equipment from the loft of a home in Trevor Terrace, North Shields.

And the Northumberland village of Belford was stunned on the end of January when £120,000 of cannabis was recovered.

That police swoop was carried out at a home in Station Road, Belford, when 250 mature plants were found along with heating and lighting equipment.

The latest raid is extraordinary in terms of the sheer volume of plants taken.

A police spokesman said: “This is part of an on-going investigation. We would urge the local community to get in touch with us about this incident or any other use of cannabis in the area.”

People with information should call 0845 604-3043.