Two charged with running £50k drug factory

Two men were due to appear in court today after a cannabis factory growing plants allegedly worth about £50,000 was discovered by police in a Shropshire village.

Police said a production unit was uncovered in Alveley, near Bridgnorth, after 10 officers searched premises on the site of Central Garage.

Inspector Martin Barnes confirmed the men, from the Wolverhampton area, who were arrested had been charged with the production of cannabis.

One of the men also faces charges of resisting or obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty.

Both men were due to appear at Telford Magistrates Court today after being charged and remanded in custody overnight.

Detective Inspector Gavin Kinrade, who led the operation, said the warrant had been granted by magistrates under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

He said: "Two men in their 20s were arrested at the premises on suspicion of producing cannabis and a substantial quantity of cannabis plant worth tens of thousands of pounds recovered."

Mr Kinrade said about 170 plants were found growing in two outbuildings under a hydroponics system. Various paraphernalia associated with the production of cannabis was also seized.

West Mercia officers also carried out searches at two homes in Tipton and Bilston in the Black Country as part of the same operation.

Several items, including a quantity of cash, were seized in connection with the inquiry.

Mr Kinrade stressed that the cannabis factory, though situated on the site of Central Garage, was not connected to the two legitimate businesses at the location.