Third drugs factory raided

Jan 16 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

POLICE have discovered yet another cannabis factory in Huddersfield – the third in just over a week.

Officers have confirmed that they raided a rented house on Oak Road in Bradley after a tip-off about suspicious activity at the home.

While there at 2am yesterday, a man returned to the terraced house and was arrested.

The 32-year-old Chinese man was later released without charge and the investigation goes on.

Early last week police raided two houses in Birkby and found a total of 500 plants – many of them high strength ‘skunk’ cannabis.

The homes were on Arnold Street and Norwood Road.

All the raids were carried out by officers from the Huddersfield North Neighbourhood Policing Team who spent yesterday dismantling the growing system in Bradley. They seized some 300 plants for evidence and destruction.

The find is valued at just short of £100,000.

The size of the plants suggests that the farm has been set up in the last few weeks, with some medium-sized plants, but about 200 in the early stages of growth.

Insp Dave Barnett from Huddersfield North Neighbourhood Policing Team praised the public for the vital information and urged people to keep it coming in.

He said: “This is the third cannabis factory to be discovered in the space of a week and it's all down to calls from residents.

“I can't think of a better way of showing how we react to information given to us by members the community.

Anyone with suspicions about drug-dealing or cannabis-growing should phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.