Four people have been arrested and £50,000 of illegal drugs have been seized after a cannabis farm was dismantled in Sunderland.
Three men, aged 32, 52, and 63 were arrested along with a 58-year-old woman after four addresses across Sunderland were targeted by Operation Sentinel, in an effort to tackle organised crime across Wearside. As well as uncovering a large-scale cannabis farm, Northumbria Police seized £17,000 in suspected criminal cash, four cars and a BB gun.
Two addresses were on Roedean Road, Red House, Sunderland, and a further two were on Houghton Road in Hetton-le-Hole as part of an ongoing investigation into the supply of drugs. When the farm was identified in Hetton-le-Hole, all plans were seized and the site was dismantled.
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Police say the electricity had also been bypassed, but the site has since been made safe. Four people arrested have since been released on bail.
Detective Jonathan Wade from Northumbria Police said: "As a Force, we are committed to tackling serious crime through a range of activity, including targeted days of action like this.
"By continuing to seize and destroy harmful drugs, we are taking away the money organised criminals rely on to fund their illegal activity, and this is one of our most efficient tools. People may think cannabis is a harmless substance, but it is an illegal drug being sold by criminals who think nothing of exploiting and abusing the vulnerable, using violence to get what they want, and flouting the law – and the ripple effects of this activity can cause real harm in our communities.
"This day of action saw four people arrested, suspected criminal cash and drugs seized, and our investigation remains ongoing. I hope the community sees our continued activity to prevent drug dealing and the wider harm it causes – and that they keep working with us by sharing information and reporting suspicious activity to us, so we can act on it."
To report suspicious activity, visit the "Tell us Something" page on the Northumbria Police website.
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