CANNABIS plants with an estimated street value of almost £500,000 were seized when police raided a disused premises in Droitwich this morning (Wednesday).
Officers swooped at the property in the High Street, based on intelligence and concerns from the community relating to the illegal grow.
After smashing their way in, police from Droitwich Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) and South Worcestershire LPA’s Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Team (NCFT) discovered around 600 plants in nine rooms across three floors.
Industrial scale growing equipment and sophisticated electrical systems were found in the building and the electricity within the building had also been tampered with.
Two men, aged 20 and 39, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of the production of a controlled drug. They were still in police custody as the Standard went to press.
Sgt Shaun Blackshaw, from the NCFT, thanked the members of the public who raised the concerns about suspicious activity.
“Hundreds of plants were found in the building which were seized and will now be destroyed, and two men are now in custody.
“Grows like this one are linked to organised criminal gangs whose actions reap harm on the communities we are here to protect and serve.
“The drugs they sell have a negative impact on our communities and can lead to other criminality, or the harm and exploitation of vulnerable people.
“Shutting down this grow today shows we will not tolerate criminal activity within our communities, and that we will act on information provided to us by the public.”
This investigation formed part of Operation Target – West Mercia Police’s work to tackle serious and organised crime.
West Mercia Police has urged anyone with information on drug cultivation or other criminal activity to call officers on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Alternatively, visit the ‘Report A Crime section of the westmercia.police.uk website or crimestoppers-uk.org to submit details.
