Suspected dealer showed police drugs when opening translate app
Police were led to a cannabis factory filled with hundreds of plants after a driver flashed up a video of the drug farm in front of officers during a stop and check.
Northumbria officers we re patro l l i n g th e R a i n - ton Bridge area of Houghton when they saw a grey Mercedes that aroused suspicion.
After speaking to the two men in it, officers noticed the strong smell of cannabis – but a search of the vehicle proved negative.
One of the suspects did not speak English as his first language, so in a bid to understand officers, used his phone to click on Google Translate.
But to his horror, a video appeared showing a significant cannabis farm in operation.
Officers placed the men, aged 38 and 22, under arrest on suspicion of production of a Class B drug, and accessed a property in High Street, Easington Lane.
It was found to be the base for a significant and “sophisticated” cannabis operation over three floors, with 600 plants seized.
Sergeant Steve Passey said it had been an “unusual incident” and added: “It’s safe to say the suspect was a little shocked and tried to quickly lock his phone in the hope that nobody had seen.
“Unfortunately for him, that resulted in him and his associate spending a night in a police cell – and we were able
to carry out further inquiries which led us to an address on High Street in Easington
Lane. Quite often, cannabis farms such as these can be used to fund more serious
criminality across the region, so this seizure will provide a dent in the pockets of those behind it.
“I’d also stress that these cannabis farms can be a potential death trap – often the electricity has been by-passed which poses a serious and real fire risk to not only the property involved, but families living in the vicinity.”
He said the force’s robust stance on drugs will continue under Operation Sentinel, which is runs across the North East to target serious and organised crime.
The men have since been released on police bail as inqu i r i e s c o nt i nue i nto th e discovery on Wednesday, December 9.
Anyone with information about drug misuse or supply is asked to contact police via the Tell Us Something page of the force’s website or by calling 101.