Drug cops in £1.5m cannabis raids

Drug-busting officers have stopped £1.5 million worth of illicit drugs from reaching the streets of Wearside – with a little help from the community.

Cops executed three warrants across Hendon, Ashbrooke and Hetton-leHole this month following reports from residents about suspected drug supply in the respective areas.

The raids saw police locate and dismantle three significant cannabis farms, with more than 3,000 plants seized in total. Officers believe the drugs to be worth in the region of £1.5 million combined.

Chief Inspector Nicola Wearing, of Northumbria Police, said: “These types of sophisticated operations often have links to serious and organised crime, with the money earned from them used to fund other criminality.

“Make no mistake; the three farms that we detected and dismantled will provide a dent in the pockets of organised criminals.

“Two of the seizures came off the back of members of the community getting in touch about suspected criminality in their area. That allowed officers to take swift and decisive action – and ultimately keep these drugs out the hands of vulnerable people in our communities.

“The other came from our partners at the fire service who attended a house fire and found the farm within. Quite often with these operations, the electricity has been by-passed – posing a real and significant danger to not only that property but neighbouring ones too.

“Nobody wants to live next to a potential death trap. If you suspect someone to be involved in drug supply in your area, pick up the phone and report it – by doing so, you could save lives.”

An investigation is ongoing into each of the discoveries.