£1m of cannabis is seized in two Black Country raids

Officers from Sandwell police raided the addresses in West Bromwich and Great Bridge in Tipton.

The first property was raided in High Street, West Bromwich on Wednesday after it was sold at auction a few months ago and officers had kept an eye on it.

Several rooms had been adapted for cannabis cultivation with sleeping quarters for round the clock care of the crop.

The electricity supply had been bypassed and energy suppliers had to dig up the road outside to make the premises safe.

Approximately 450 plants were taken from the premises for destruction.

Meanwhile, a second warrant was executed in Market Place, Great Bridge where more than 1,000 plants were discovered over three floors of the building.

Police have charged two men with the cultivation of cannabis.

One man, aged 26, of no fixed address, has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on October 18.

A second man, aged 29-year-old, also of no fixed address will stand trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court on December 16.

Pc Andy Francis said: "This is a significant quantity of drugs taken from the streets with around a million pounds taken out of the pockets of drug dealers. Some people may be under the illusion that cannabis is a harmless drug. The reality is quite different.

"We know that cannabis farms cultivate more than drugs – they are often managed by organised gangs who are heavily involved in gun crime, money laundering, human trafficking and serious violence.

"The electricity supply fuelling the heaters which create a tropical environment for the plants is almost always illegally connected to the mains supply by unqualified electricians putting neighbouring properties at serious risk of fire.

"I would strongly urge people with suspicions about cannabis farms in their area to call us."