Cannabis dumped in laundry bags around Staffordshire village
Laundry bags with cannabis inside are being dumped in fields around Brewood, residents have claimed.
It is believed that gangs are dumping the remnants after their cannabis farms, which are run all over the region, come to the end of their lifespan.
In the eyes of the criminals, the remnants cannot be taken to council-run tips due to fears over being caught growing the illegal drug.
Instead residents say the gangs are turning to fields and back lanes around the South Staffordshire village of Brewood to dispose of their illegal activities.
Resident Rob Hess found 10 dumped laundry bags off Engleton Lane earlier this year, which contained what looked like garden waste.
He told the Express & Star: "A couple of weeks ago I saw about a dozen laundry bags dumped in a field. I took a picture and then posted it on Facebook on the Brewood Matters page, inquiring as to what it was all about.
"Someone who works on a farm then got in touch to say he saw lots of bags dumped all the time and that it is the leftovers of cannabis farms, which cannot be taken to the tips because it is obvious what they are."
Since he posted about his find on social media, other residents have come forward to reveal that they too have found dumped cannabis bags.
Other finds include Foxes Lane, Chillington Lane, Four Ashes Road, Light Ash Lane and Cobblers Bank. It is not known if all these finds involved cannabis or were just general fly-tipping.
Mr Hess added: "It is very annoying. We won the best kept large village in Staffordshire last year and it is a shame that there are people who are intent on spoiling the place."
Staffordshire Police said it would be investigating the finds and has urged anyone with information about drugs to get in touch.
A spokesman added: "If you discover items that you believe are linked to the supply of drugs, please call 101."
