Arrests made as £700k cannabis factories found in Smethwick
Hundreds of cannabis plants were seized in raids at two properties in Smethwick.
Police swooped at addresses in Salisbury Road in the Cape Hill area and discovered plants worth more than £700,000 in street value.
Two people were arrested at the scene and have been charged in connection with the illegal production of cannabis.
Rows of plants in various stages of growth covered floors on ground and upper floors. Between the two terraced houses, a huge haul of 700 plants were recovered.
Officers forced their way into the properties at dawn on Saturday and found sophisticated cannabis farm set-ups inside.
The letterboxes had been sealed to prevent the escape of the tell-tale pungent aroma of the Class 2 drug.
Inside the addresses, wooden posts had been erected to accommodate electricity points and wiring to power the whole operation. Large overhead lamps hung from the ceilings and fans had been set up to regulate the heating
Plants filled almost every room, from seedlings to plants that had grown more than three feet tall.
Officers acting on tip-offs executed search warrants on the two premises at dawn.
West Midlands Fire crews accompanied police officers to the addresses to check on potential fire hazards. They tweeted later: '700 plants = £700,000 of drugs off the streets and preventing possible electrical fire'.
