Police discover ‘Cannabis Factory’ in Madeley

West Mercia Police were called by a member of the public at around 10pm last night saying they could hear noises coming from an industrial estate on Station Road. Officers attended and discovered a group of men apparently breaking into a lock-up unit.

Five men were arrested at the scene on suspicion of burglary.

Inside the unit, officers found a cannabis cultivation operation consisting of around 200 mature plants and a nursery.

Inspector Dick Langton said: “This is a well-developed and sophisticated set up that would have been producing many thousands of pounds worth of cannabis.

“Officers remain at the site today as we undertake forensic inquiries, remove the plants to be destroyed and dismantle the equipment. Engineers are also at the scene making it safe in case of any illegal abstraction of electricity.

“We have been fortunate to have discovered this drugs production operation but that fortune came directly from a member of the public contacting us immediately about suspicious activity.

“Thanks to them we have five men in custody at Malinsgate Police Station and we have been able to disrupt this criminal activity. It is an excellent example of how the public are vital to our work and I would urge anyone who has concerns about something out of the ordinary to contact us immediately on 101 or 999 if a crime is in progress.”