Million pound cannabis farm shut down by police

Police have shut down a suspected drug factory after seizing more than 2,000 plants from an industrial estate in Ladywood on Wednesday morning.

Officers from the Ladywood West neighborhood teams with drones, dogs and operational support units executed a drugs warrant at around 7.45am and discovered growing equipment inside the facility.

The plants are estimated to be worth around £1m.

Sergeant Richard Bastable, of the Jewelery Quarter neighborhood team, said: “Today the team carried out an intelligence-led operation which resulted in the recovery of a large quantity of plants, significantly disrupting crime in Birmingham.

“Community information helps us disrupt this type of crime. If you have information about crime in your area, please contact us. We will always act on credible information.

“The message is clear, if you come to this area with the intention of carrying out criminal activity, we will stop you. Protecting our communities is always at the heart of what we do and we simply will not tolerate it.”

The plants will be forensically checked before they are destroyed and the equipment dismantled.

A West Midlands Police spokesman added: “Cannabis farms are very dangerous places and pose a serious fire risk. Every cannabis farm we destroy also helps prevent a vicious cycle.

“The plants won’t end up as street deals, the profits won’t go on to fund other crimes, and they won’t destroy lives or pollute our communities.”