Drug farm is sniffed out during police visit
AN intoxicated woman was escorted home by concerned police who then discovered a cannabis farm stashed in the loft.
Northumbria Police officers got a call from a member of the public in Heaton, Newcastle, who was concerned about a woman in her front garden. The woman in the garden appeared to be intoxicated and the caller was worried about the stranger’s welfare.
Officers from Forth Banks police station quickly located the woman, made sure she was OK and escorted her back to her home address which was only a few yards away.
However, when they got inside the property they noticed a strong smell of cannabis and found a cannabis farm in the loft.
A 65-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man were arrested, while growing equipment and 54 plants were seized during Saturday afternoon’s discovery.
Inspector Julie Rana oversees the work of the neighbourhood team in the area and said any cannabis farms found by police will be seized and destroyed.
She said: “The officers who responded to the initial call were primarily concerned about the welfare of the woman who was reported to be shouting in the street.
“Their priority was to make sure she got home safely and that she was not intimidating any other members of the public in the area.
“However, once inside they used their police officer instinct to sniff out criminal activity and seize what is quite a large home cannabis farm.
“We know that there are mixed views on the production of cannabis and how seriously it should be taken by police, but the reality is that it is an illegal drug.
“Regardless of what people think about the effect of cannabis on society, we will take, seize and destroy any farms that we discover in our line of duty.”
The two people arrested have since been released under investigation while the farm and growing equipment found at the address have been seized.