Big £173k cannabis farm on Telford housing estate could be 'linked to organised crime gang'

A large cannabis farm was uncovered in a property on a Shropshire housing estate with one man arrested amid to a claim it could be ‘linked to an organised crime gang’. Officers from West Mercia Police’s Telford Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Team (NCFT) and Brookside and The Nedge Safer neighbourhood teams carried out a raid at an address in Bishopdale on the Brookside estate on Monday (November 25) morning.

Once inside officers found 207 mature plants with an estimated street value of £173,000. Police said there was ‘evidence within the property to suggest the electrical supply had also been tampered with’.

A 23-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of producing cannabis. He was taken into police custody and was being questioned on the cannabis farm find.

Read more: Police rumble £500k cannabis farm during raid at former Bank of Scotland

Sergeant Matt Corfield, from the NCFT, said: “We executed today’s warrant in response to concerns within the local community, and upon entering the property, we discovered around more than 200 plants.

“We are pleased to have disrupted this illegal enterprise, which may be linked to an organised criminal gang (OCG) whose actions reap harm on the communities we are here to protect and serve. The drugs they sell have a negative impact on our communities and can lead to other criminality, or the harm and exploitation of vulnerable people.

“Shutting down this grow shows we will not tolerate criminal activity within our communities, and that we will act on information provided to us by the public.”

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: “The local community can help officers by continuing to report any signs of criminal activity – the easiest way to do this is on our website. Any bit of information, no matter how small it may seem, could help make a big difference. You can report online under the Report A Crime section at West Mercia Police

“If you have information about drugs and drugs supply and don’t want to speak to police, you can report information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or https://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”