Revealed: £12 million of cannabis seized in seven months
More than 24,000 plants have been destroyed across the region during the past seven months by West Midlands Police force's specialist Cannabis Disposal Team.
Almost £12 million of cannabis has been seized during raids at homes and businesses by West Midlands Police since the start of the year.
One of the biggest hauls - around £1 million of cannabis - was found at a warehouse in Fisher Street, Tipton in May.
Last month a haul of more than 1,300 cannabis plants was uncovered at an industrial estate on Owen Road, Willenhall. The drug was found growing six purpose-built rooms.
Police also seized more than 200 cannabis plants from a home in Langley after an anonymous 999 call to police. In total 234 plants were seized across four rooms at the property in Thompson Road, including the loft.
Other raids have included uncovered around 160 cannabis plants at a property in Churchfield Street, Dudley and 20 plants worth an estimated £30,000 at a cannabis set up at a flat on Lily Street in West Bromwich.
Since the start of 2015, the police team has seized a total of 24,373 plants, worth almost £12 m.
Disposal team manager Mike Hall, said: "Criminals are using more inventive ways to conceal cannabis grows – not just in rooms, but in the back of shops and underground – but thanks to tip-offs from members of the public we're acting to close them down and punish offenders.
"People simply don't want drugs blighting the places they live and work.
"Every cannabis farm we destroy helps prevent a vicious circle - the plants won't end up as street deals, the profits won't go on to fund other crime, and they won't ruin lives or pollute our communities."
Since West Midlands Police's Cannabis Disposal Team was set up in 2010 it has crushed 'farms' producing drugs with a combined street deal value topping £150-million.
The specially-trained unit is called in to dismantle commercial scale drugs production – not a couple of plants in a window box – and regularly come across facilities involving extensive heat, lighting and hydroponics set-ups.
Officers work closely with the force's investigation teams tackling drug supply and often join officers carrying out raids on suspect premises.
The team takes hundreds of tonnes of cannabis a year for incineration but lots of the compost and fertilizer, plant pots, gardening tools, irrigation equipment, lighting and heat lamps are donated to a range of charities and good causes across the West Midlands.
Community garden projects, churches, mosques and schools are among those who've benefited. High-powered lamps have even been given to Warwickshire Cricket Club to help stimulate grass growth on repaired ground.
Anyone who suspects drug supply in their community should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
