£1m drugs find in ‘lovely area’
A COMMUNITY was left in shock following a drugs raid that led to a police seizure of around £1m-worth of cannabis.
Officers forced entry to a property in Lucknow Drive, Mapperley, shortly before 11.30am on Thursday in response to a tip-off.
Inside the property they found a large-scale cannabis crop, with around 1,400 mature plants crammed into multiple rooms in the detached house.
Residents reacted with disbelief to the fact that the activity was taking place so close to their homes, most of them entirely unaware that anything untoward was happening.
Jacque Minton, an outreach officer at the University of Nottingham, said: “Well, actually yes – it is surprising, and quite worrying too.
“I mean I had heard about incidents in other areas around here like Alexandra Park, which is not far from here, but £1m is a lot.
“I had not heard a police presence or anything like that, though. “But it can happen anywhere.” Liz Malinowska, who lives nearby, said: “It does and does not shock me at the same time. There is always going to be things like this happening all over Nottingham.
“This really is a lovely road, though, I love walking up and down here, so to hear of something like this is a bit crazy.”
Nottinghamshire Police said drug enforcement is a “top priority” for them.
Two bottles of CS spray and a telescopic baton were also recovered from the address.
One resident of Richmond Drive, just off Lucknow Drive, said: “Well, if you think about it, it could happen anywhere, even though this is a lovely area.
“Just because it could happen in, say, Stoke Bardolph it does not mean that it can’t happen here.
“It is a shock, though, as I would not have expected it. I had not heard of any drug Issues around here.”
A woman living on Lucknow Drive, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “There’s been all sorts of odd things around here recently, though.
“I have seen a regular police presence on this road for five or six years now.”
Two men, aged 24 and 20, were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences and remain in police custody.
Inspector Karl Thomas, local area commander for Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This is a great result for the local team and testament to the hard work and dedication shown by the officers involved. It should also serve as a warning to others involved in the illegal supply of drugs – we could very well be coming for you next.”
Anyone with any additional information about this incident or any other drug related crime is asked to call 101 quoting incident 283 of September 9.