£1m cannabis farm
SOPHISTICATED SET UP WITH 900 PLANTS DISCOVERED
POLICE have seized cannabis plants that could have made the growers £1 million.
Officers found more than 900 plans on Monday when they discovered a major operation to produce the class B drug at an industrial premises in Bardon Hill.
North West Leicestershire police commander Inspector Rich Jackson said nearly 30 raids have been carried out by his officers in recent weeks to disrupt the drugs trade.
He said more police action would follow.
Police said they were called to the industrial unit in Walker Road after the owner of the building was unable to get inside.
No-one was present and no arrests have been made.
Sergeant Ryan Ludlam said: “Our inquiries into the discovery of these plants is continuing and officers remained in the area while they were recovered.
“The set up inside the unit was sophisticated. We think there are about 900 plants.”
Officers from the Ashby and Forest team estimated the street value of the crop at “more than £1 million.”
Sgt Ludlam said: “Tackling the production of drugs is one of our key priorities and we would like to speak to anyone who has information regarding this grow.
“We’re particularly keen to speak to anyone who visits or uses the industrial units in Walker Road, and who may have seen someone – or a group of people – acting in a manner that aroused suspicion.”
The police said they had had a busy night dealing with the cannabis and while they have not said exactly where it was they have published pictures of a large number of plants set out under lighting in a large building.
The force has had other successes in recent weeks targeting marijuana production with a string of raids on large drugs factories in Leicester city centre.
Anyone with information about the Walker Road find is asked to call the police on 101.