£1.5 million of cannabis seized from streets in the West Midlands

The figure was revealed by the Cannabis Disposal Team of West Midlands Police – the taskforce set up to tackle the cultivation of the drug.

Raids carried out in the Black Country last month accounted for almost two thirds of the overall figure.

Of those, the largest raid saw 861 plants seized at two properties in Dudley, with a street value of around £430,000.

The Express & Star revealed earlier this year that a cannabis factory is raided by police in the Black Country every three days. Figures published by West Midlands Police, from an FOI request, showed £9m worth of drugs was seized in the region last year.

The raid in Dudley saw two men arrested at two adjoining properties on Stourbridge Road, Russells Hall, on September 20, where the 861 plants were found spread around seven rooms.

A total of 48,600 watts of electricity had been illegally used, police officers said. A 'strong smell' from the properties had led police there.

The raid was conducted by police officers from Dudley, West Midlands Police Cannabis Team and helicopter crews from the National Police Air Service based in Birmingham.

On September 2, a police warrant led to a raid of 451 cannabis plants from a house in Ebenezer Street, Hill Top, West Browmich. The plants, with a street value of £220,000, were spread across five rooms.

Two men were arrested following the raid. Police found electricity had been used, with fans and tubing together with hydroponic lights used to cultivate the drug. Around three weeks later, on September 21, police seized 300 plants from a property in Terry Street, Kates Hill, Dudley, after they were discovered by an Npower engineer. The estimated value was £90,000.

While in Walsall, 209 plants with an estimated value of £62,700 was seized by police on September 9. The plants were discovered by a landlord.

In Halesowen, 124 plants with an estimated value of £37,000 were seized from Bloomfield Street West. The raid took place on September 16, following a police warrant.

Another warrant lead to the discovery of 81 plants at an address in Jameson Street, Whitmore Reans, on September 23, with an estimated value of £24,300.

And in Netherton, 80 plants with an estimated value of £24,000 were discovered by the landlord of a property in Northfield Road.

Bosses of the cannabis team have highlighted how cannabis factories are getting smaller in size to reduce the risks of being found.

While the factories are reducing in size, police say they have increased in numbers across the Black Country.