Police officers carrying out an early morning drugs raid got more than they bargained for – two cannabis grows for the price of one.
Acting on local intelligence, officers from the Mansfield Operation Reacher team forced their way into property in Somersall Street shortly after 7.30am this morning (Wednesday).
Inside they found more than 120 mature cannabis plants with a street value of tens of thousands of pounds.
During routine house-to-house enquiries officers became suspicious of another property directly over the road.
As they took a closer look a suspect was seen to run from the back door but was soon chased down and detained.
A further 100 mature cannabis plants were found inside.
The plants will now be taken away and destroyed and a range of sophisticated growing and electrical equipment has been put beyond future use. Intelligence materials were also seized.
Two men, aged 38 and 32, were arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation and remain in police custody.
Sergeant Tony Bailey, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Clearly we had very strong reason to suspect wrong-doing at the first property, but the second really was an unexpected bonus.
“We are aware that some people see this cannabis as ‘only a bit of weed’, but cultivation on this scale is very often linked to very serious organised criminal gangs from home and abroad who are often willing to use extreme violence in order to protect their investment.
“Industrial cannabis grows of this type are also extremely dangerous – especially when thy are contained within terraced properties. The sheer amount of heat involved – almost always generated from an illegally bypassed electricity supply – poses a hugely increased fire risk to neighbouring properties.
“We won’t tolerate drug production in our town and will continue acting on local intelligence to put drug dealers out of businesses. If anyone has suspicions about a property near them we urge them to contact us in confidence by calling 101 or speaking to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
