£2m heroin haul seized in Whitchurch

A haul of heroin worth more than £2 million has been seized in a raid at a Shropshire industrial estate.

Officers from the national Serious Organised Crime Agency and officers from West Mercia Police swooped on the unit at Waymills Industrial Estate in Whitchurch on Friday.

A total of 35 kilogrammes of the class A drug, worth about £2.45 million, was seized at the unit

A kilo of heroin is understood to be worth about £70,000.

More than 20 officers raided the unit at about 5.15pm on Friday.

The unit was sealed off overnight while forensic work and inquiries were carried out.

Five men were arrested at the scene.

Workers at surrounding businesses said today they were unaware of any illegal activity going on at the site and were shocked about the discovery of the drugs.

A spokeswoman for the Serious Organised Crime Agency said three of the men were released on bail while further investigations were carried out.

"Five people were arrested at the scene and three were released on police bail," she said.

Two other men, aged 50 and 28, have been charged with the importation of class A drugs and were due to appear before Telford Magistrates Court today.