Cannabis factory uncovered in Downton on The Rock

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Thursday, 23 May 2019 15:48

By Shaun Moore

More than 500 cannabis plants have been found in Downton on the Rock after a drugs warrant was executed near Ludlow.

The South West Mercia Local Policing Priority Team (LPPT) responded to National Crime Agency (NCA) intelligence that had identified a large cannabis factory located at a farmhouse in the village of Downton on the Rock on the Herefordshire/Shropshire border. As a result of the warrant, more than 500 plants and a barn full of specialised equipment was found.

Superintendent Sue Thomas, Policing Commander for Herefordshire said: "This operation comes at a time when we are working tirelessly to reduce the county lines crime as well target Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) in and around our counties. On the day, we seized and destroyed more than 500 cannabis plants, incinerated a number of industrial sized bags full of ready-to-sell cannabis buds and seized paraphernalia estimated at several hundred thousand pounds. We also arrested a Vietnamese man who was thought to be in the country illegally. He was charged and remanded to court.

"This operation demonstrates how determined we are to deal with serious crimes in order to keep our communities safe from the impact of drugs. People in Herefordshire and Shropshire deserve to be safe and free from organised criminality like this and teams such as the Hereford LPPT are out there every day making a real difference to people's lives.

"Enquiries are now ongoing to identify those responsible and bring them to justice and anyone who may have any information regarding this incident can contact us on 101."