Cannabis Factory With Plants Worth £650,000 Discovered At Drakelow Tunnels

[CanhamoMAN]

Cannabis factory with plants worth £650,000 discovered at Drakelow Tunnels

2:25pm Wednesday 27th November 2013 in http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/10838103.Cannabis_factory_with_plants_worth___650_000_discovered_at_Drakelow_Tunnels/?ref=var_0

Cannabis factory with plants worth £650,000 discovered at Drakelow Tunnels

POLICE have discovered a large-scale cannabis farm underground at an historic tunnels complex near Kinver.

Officers today (Wednesday) seized more than 400 cannabis plants with a street value of around £650,000 when swooped on Drakelow Tunnels at around 9am.

Around 30 police officers and staff from West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police were involved in the operation which saw cops discover a network of hydroponic equipment including heating, lighting and ventilation fans.

The plants were in various stages of growth and cultivation.

Drakelow Tunnels, which earlier this year was earmarked to be transformed into a museum, was used to manufacture machine parts during the Second World War and in the late 1950s it was designated by the Home Office as a regional seat of government in the event of a nuclear attack during the Cold War.

The 285,000sq ft network of tunnels, off Kingsford Lane, Wolverley, stretch for about three miles and during the 50s the complex was also used by the Ministry of Supply for storage.

Much of the original equipment is still in situ.

North Worcestershire Superintendent Kevin Purcell said officers had been briefed on the historic nature of the site and the operation was tailored to cause as little disturbance as possible within the sprawling complex.

Supt Purcell said: “While executing the warrant at Drakelow Tunnels we discovered a large and sophisticated cannabis growing operation and although the plants will need to be tested it would appear that this seizure has prevented a large quantity of illegal drugs ending up on the streets. That in itself is a very positive outcome."

Ahead of the raid officers executed an associated search warrant in a dawn swoop on an address in Kidderminster where a 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and being concerned in the production and supply of controlled drugs. A quantity of cash was also seized at the property.

Supt Purcell added: "While we have made an arrest in connection with this I would stress this is a dynamic, ongoing investigation and we would very much like to hear from anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity near the tunnels or know anything that could be helpful to our inquiry.”

Anyone with information about the production, supply and use of drugs is urged to call officers at Kidderminster on the non-emergency number 101 or the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111