Hull Daily Mail

Three-storey £500k cannabis jungle found inside an empty bank

TWO MEN IN CUSTODY AFTER POLICE UNCOVER OPERATION

- By DAN KEMP dan.kemp@reachplc.com @1_Dankemp

DRUG dealers who turned an empty bank branch in an East st Yorkshire town into a three-storey cannabis s farm are in custody.

CCTV caught the he pair leaving the forr mer HSBC in Queen Street, Withernsea, on n Monday night before re making a significan­t nt find behind the walls ls of the bank.

A cannabis grow w spreading across three ee floors and ten rooms of the former bank was uncovered, with a street value of around half a million pounds.

In all, around 1,000 plants were found in what Humberside Police called a “sophistica­ted set-up” that had been stealing electricit­y and putting neighbouri­ng properties at risk.

The footage captured on a nearby camera showed the duo walking away from the branch towards a parked car but, as they unlocked the doors and got inside, they were met by a significan­t surprise.

Five police cars hurtled into position to stop the pair from escaping before officers detained them.

They were both arrested suspicion of being involved in production of cannabis after discovery of the huge grow. on the the

As of Tuesday evening, a scene guard remained in place while officers dismantle the grow.

PC James Stothard, the beat manager for Withernsea, said: “Taking down organised criminals involved in the production and distributi­on of drugs is incredibly important to our force.

“I would continue to encourage our local communitie­s to report any informatio­n, no matter how small, they feel could help our action against drugs in their area.

“You can report drug activity by calling our non-emergency number 101, or by speaking with your community team.

“Alternativ­ely, if you wish to remain anonymous for any reason, you can contact Crimestopp­ers on 0800 555111.”

An update issued on Tuesday evening by a spokesman for the force said: “Two men have been arrested by our Roads Crime Team, just before 6pm yesterday, Monday, January 4, on suspicion of being involved in the production of cannabis, after a large cannabis factory was discovered at an address in Queen Street, Withernsea.

“Approximat­ely 1,000 plants have been discovered across ten rooms.

“The sophistica­ted set-up had been dangerousl­y extracting electricit­y, common with cannabis grows, which can put surroundin­g properties and businesses at risk.

“A scene guard remains in while the Operation Galaxy continue to dismantle the grow.

“The two men remain in custody.” place team

our

 ??  ?? 1,000 cannabis plants, with a street value in the region of £500,000, were uncovered
1,000 cannabis plants, with a street value in the region of £500,000, were uncovered
 ??  ?? The former HSBC bank in Queen Street, Withernsea
The former HSBC bank in Queen Street, Withernsea
 ??  ?? Officers found cannabis growing in ten rooms across three floors
Officers found cannabis growing in ten rooms across three floors

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