Police uncover £2million cannabis farm the size of a football pitch

A quick-thinking copper has sniffed out a massive cannabis farm.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The farm – the size of a football pitch – was uncovered thanks to the nose of Community Support Officer Martin Jobling.

The huge farm was uncovered on Thursday morning after CSO Jobling was on patrol at the Valentine’s Funfair on Team Valley and noticed a strong smell of cannabis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Acting Inspector Warren Sturrock joined him at the scene and together they were able to identify the warehouse in question, where they discovered the huge drug haul of 3,000 plants.

The farm is the size of a football pitchThe farm is the size of a football pitch
The farm is the size of a football pitch

Three foreign nationals were subsequently arrested on suspicion of producing a Class B drug with intent to supply.

Officers believe the yield of each individual plant has a street value of about £660, meaning the total street value of the factory could be as much as £2million.

A criminal investigation has now been launched by Northumbria Police that will be supported by Immigration Enforcement.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Acting Insp Sturrock said that farm was clearly part of a sophisticated operation.

The farm holds up to 3,000 plantsThe farm holds up to 3,000 plants
The farm holds up to 3,000 plants

He said: “This is a sophisticated drug supply operation that may have seen millions of pounds worth of cannabis supplied to dealers across our region.

“This seizure will have put a huge dent in the pockets of the organised crime group responsible but we will not stop here and a criminal investigation is well underway.

“We have arrested three suspected cannabis farmers at the factory and we are now working to establish who is involved in this sophisticated operation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“This is clearly not a small cannabis farm to help give someone pain relief, this is an industrial-sized farm that is lining the pockets of serious criminals and will not be tolerated.

A PCSO raised the alarmA PCSO raised the alarm
A PCSO raised the alarm

“I want to praise Martin who acted on his instinct when he smelt cannabis and knew something wasn’t quite right.

“It shows that community policing has an important role to play in the fight against organised crime and that makes me very proud.

Anyone who has information about drug dealing should call police on 101, report it online at the Northumbria Police website or contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.