300 cannabis plants found by police in two South Wales Valleys drug factories

Drug factory found on one of the busiest high streets in the South Wales Valleys after police respond to attempted break-in

Hundreds of cannabis plants have been seized by police after being found growing at two separate sites - including one of the Valleys' busiest shopping streets.

One cannabis factory containing 100 plants was found in a flat on Treorchy High Street after police responded to an attempted break-in. In a separate discovery, 200 plants were seized from a property in Porth seven miles away.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said officers were called to the Treorchy flat after reports of a man in his late 20s trying to break-in to a building which housed a former butchers and an upstairs flat.

He said: "Officers were at the scene in minutes and their suspicions were raised immediately as they noticed windows to the flat above the butchers were blacked out and an unusual amount of ventilation to the property.

"Approximately 100 immature cannabis plants were discovered in a room of the upstairs flat".

Derek Davies, who owns a jewellers shop in High Street, said he had told police officers there was something suspicious about the flat.

He said: "The flat had been leased out months ago and yet nobody seemed to be living there. There was no sign of any curtains just a white substance covering the windows.

"I saw some police officers on the street three weeks ago and told them that they needed to take a close look at the flat.

"A shopkeeper on the High Street noticed that somebody was trying to break into the building and went to investigate."

A police spokesman said information received from the public was "vital" but - while they couldn't comment on individual cases - officers had to "develop" any information from tip-offs before applying for search warrants.

He added: "The community can be assured that we always act on the information they give us but must work within the legal parameters of the UK justice system.

"Officers were led to this building to investigate an attempted burglary, and as they were doing so they acted on obvious telltale signs that they were dealing with a cannabis factory as they entered the property.

"We have an excellent example of just how public information is developed and acted upon, with the discovery of a cannabis factory the day after this particular find, in Aberllechau Road, Porth.

"A much larger, and very sophisticated operation has been exposed by officers in a morning raid at the address. Around 200 plants which covered three separate rooms have been seized by officers and will now be destroyed.

"Two males, aged 18 and 25, who are believed to be foreign nationals are currently in police custody."

Police Inspector Andy Jones said the Treorchy operation was "capable of producing cannabis worth thousands, and it would have been destined for streets of the Rhondda."

He added: "Enquiries are ongoing to locate the owner".

http://www.walesonline.co.uk 31/05/2013