Police on their way to a pre-planned drugs raid stopped on the way to seize an illegal off-road motorbike – moments before they discovered more than £170,000 worth of cannabis.
Officers from the Mansfield Operation Reacher Team executed a warrant at an address in Bentinck Street shortly after 8am this morning.
Inside they found 174 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms – all of which will now be destroyed.
A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and remains in police custody.
Moments before, officers on route to the raid spotted a suspect riding an off-road motorcycle who immediately tried to leave the area.
An unmarked car travelling behind the main police van quickly stopped the rider and seized his bike. The rest of the team carried on to carry out the drugs warrant.
Sergeant Tony Bailey, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “All in all this was another great result for the team. Residents frequently complain not only of the smell of cannabis use, but also of the noise and aggravation caused by people riding noisy off-road bikes illegally near where they live.
“So we were delighted to get two decent results for the price of one. Unfortunately for the rider he found himself in the middle of a pre-planned police operation and paid the price for it.
“Cannabis cultivation in particular is a very serious offence that is often linked to organised criminal gangs at home and abroad. We will never tolerate people growing and selling drugs in our town and hope that this morning’s raid serves as a warning to anyone who is involved in the drugs trade: we are watching you, we know where you live and we could very well be paying you a visit very soon.”
This morning’s raid comes just two weeks after the team found more than 200 cannabis plants at two addressed in Somersall Street.
Anyone with further information about this incident or any drug related offending is asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
