Drug factories warning after £500,000 bust

Illegal drug factories linked to serious organised crime rings are being set up in quiet Shropshire neighbourhoods in a bid to avoid detection, a police inspector warned today.

The warning came from Inspector Richard Langton after he led a team of officers in a swoop in Shawbirch, Telford, which saw them seize more than 400 cannabis plants.

The plants found at the detached property In Lower Park Drive yesterday would have earned the ringleader of the factory more than £500,000 during a 12-month period of production.

Inspector Langton, based at Wellington police station, said yesterday's raid should act as a warning to other people trying to set up in quiet streets and also to neighbours to be vigilant wherever they lived.

It was the second raid in a week after an outbuilding in Sugden, near Rodington, was raided on Wednesday where a number of cannabis plants were also found.

Yesterday's raid was part of the police campaign You Said - We Did to reassure the public of police action over their worries.

"My main message from the operation is this is not an isolated incident," he said. "There are discreet factories such as this all over our communities.

"I want to make the public aware cannabis production is being done on this scale and ask people to be aware of what is going on."

He added: "This drugs factory will be linked to organised crime groups nationally and will be one of many under the control of the same people."