Police seize cannabis in early morning Staffordshire raids
Sixty police officers swooped on homes across Staffordshire today in a series of drugs raids, seizing thousands of pounds worth of cannabis.
They raided 10 homes and made five arrests, seizing cannabis and ketamine. Properties in Great Wyrley, Cannock, Chadsmoor and Rugeley were targeted.
Officers broke down the door of a house in Lion Street, Rugeley, and discovered a cannabis factory worth £6,000. Around a dozen plants were being grown in the basement and garden.
The plants were seized and a man and woman were arrested.
Arrests were also made in Norton East Road and Market Street, in Cannock, and Sherwood Drive in Chadsmoor. One person was cautioned following a raid at Mitre Road, Cannock.
Ketamine was also found during the operation. Chief Constable Mike Cunningham was part of the team that executed the warrant in Lion Street just before 7am. "We executed a warrant at this address this morning based on information received from the local community," he said.
"In the basement of the address we have discovered what appears to be a fairly significant cannabis cultivation. We have found around a dozen plants at this address, which is by no means a small operation and it's more than what we would expect to see grown for personal use. The evidence here points to supply of the drug. This is all part of our resolution to target people in drugs, because we know they are a blight on our local communities."
Western Power had to be called into the Great Wyrley address due to concerns about the power supply at the house. The raids were carried out as part of Operation Nemesis, Staffordshire Police's county-wide crackdown on drugs and serious theft offences.
