Cannabis farm worth more than £100k destroyed by police

Officers were called to Myrtle Street, Ashington, following reports of men acting suspiciously around a van in the area.

The men had been disturbed by the owner of the van before they threw a tool at him and made off in two cars.

Police attended the scene following the call – which took place at around 2.30am on Saturday, October 24 – and their inquiries led them to an address in Laburnum Terrace where they uncovered a sophisticated cannabis operation.

The huge farm spread over a two-bedroom flat and the property’s loft, with the electricity having been dangerously by-passed inside the address.

It is thought that the plants – which have been seized and destroyed – have a street value of around £100,000.

Inspector Phil Patterson, of the Ashington Neighbourhood Policing Team, is calling on residents to help police in the fight against organised crime.

He said in a statement on Thursday, OCtober 29: “This discovery of a large-scale criminal operation was possible because a member of the public noticed something suspicious and contacted police.

“They absolutely did the right thing – the public are our eyes and ears, and we have now dismantled this cannabis farm and taken action to prevent criminals from making any further financial gain from the set up.”

On Saturday a man and a woman, both aged 35, were arrested on suspicion of the production of cannabis.

On Monday, October 26 a further three men - aged 20, 24 and 29 - were subsequently arrested in connection with the investigation.

They have all been released under investigation while inquiries continue.

Insp Pattereson added: “This isn’t a resident growing a couple of plants for personal use or for medicinal purposes. It’s a sophisticated operation that is linked to organised crime.

“This type of criminality inevitably leads to violence, anti-social behaviour and vulnerable people being caught up in a sophisticated criminal operation

“It’s therefore imperative that we find these illegal drugs, destroy them and ensure they are taken off the streets of Ashington.”

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