500 cannabis plants seized in barn raid near Ludlow
More than 500 cannabis plants worth hundreds of thousands of pounds have been seized after a raid at a farmhouse near Ludlow.
The plants were discovered at Downton on the Rock on the border between Shropshire and Herefordshire after a National Crime Agency tip off prompted local police to carry out a drugs warrant.
A Vietnamese man in the UK illegally was also arrested and charged. He has been remanded in custody to appear in court.
As well as the plants, police also found large bags of cannabis buds and paraphernalia.
Superintendent Sue Thomas said: "This operation comes at a time when we are working tirelessly to reduce the County Lines crime as well target organised crime groups in and around our counties. On the day, we seized and destroyed more than 500 cannabis plants, incinerated a number of industrial sized bags full of ready-to-sell cannabis buds and seized paraphernalia estimated at several hundred thousand pounds.
"This operation demonstrates how determined we are to deal with serious crimes in order to keep our communities safe from the impact of drugs. People deserve to be safe and free from organised criminality like this and teams are out there every day making a real difference to people's lives.
"Enquiries are now ongoing to identify those responsible and bring them to justice and anyone who may have any information regarding this incident can contact us on 101."
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
