Three cannabis farms as police get a tip-off

More than 3,000 cannabis plants have been seized after three cannabis farms were uncovered in raids by police across Sunderland.

Northumbria Police estimates the value of the drugs at £1.5million after the farms were discovered in Ashbrooke, Hendon and Hetton.

The force has thanked the community for the information which led to the search warrants being carried out, after residents told officers after the suspected drug supply in the respective areas, while firefighters uncovered one after being called to a house blaze.

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.

“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 bypassed – 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.”

An investigation is ongoing into the discoveries.