Public tip-offs help uncover drug farms

Apr 18 2009 by Linda Richards, The Journal

AROUND 2,000 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of more £1m have been seized in police raids.

Officers stormed two properties in Sunderland which had been converted to operate sophisticated cannabis farms.

The first was discovered in Gordon Terrace, Sunderland, on Wednesday where wall to wall plants were found inside with an estimated yield of around £500,000.

Police recovered 900 plants of various sizes and arrested one man.

He has been charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis and was remanded in custody And on Thursday afternoon, police raided a disused business property on Church Street, Roker, Sunderland.

The premises had been given a new lease of life as a cannabis factory, with more than 1,000 cannabis plants inside with a street value of around £540,000.

Two men on the premises tried to escape. One man was arrested at the scene and another attempted to hide in an external ventilation shaft, but was also arrested after being cut free by the fire service.

Both men were last night helping police with their inquiries.