Police seize £100,000 of drugs

More than £100,000 of cannabis was seized in a dawn raid on a drugs factory in Telford, police revealed today. The factory was at a house in Leegomery.

The house had been professionally transformed into a large hydroponics factory with dozens of mature cannabis plants.

The drugs squad raided the property in the early hours of Saturday after suspicions grew over the behaviour of visitors to the house.

Four men, one in his late teens and three in their early 20s, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of the production and cultivation of cannabis. They have since been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Detectives who led the raid said the cannabis production site was "professionally" fitted out as an "industrial hydroponics growing facility".

The production of the cannabis would have earned the ringleaders more than £100,000 during a 12-month production cycle, they said. The majority of the plants had been harvested and were in the stage of preparation for onward distribution.

Detective Inspector Pete Brophy said the latest raid should act as a warning to others who supply drugs in the borough. He said: "This was a significant find for us and it will cause a major disruption to the supply of cannabis in the borough.

"This is one of a number of cannabis factories we have found in recent months and I would once again ask people to be on their guard and on the lookout for suspicious behaviour at any addresses close to their own.

"It is important that people call us with information, because it is ultimately their help that enables us to carry out operations and make arrests."

Call police on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.