Police seize more than £20k worth of cannabis after raiding Hartshill business
Detectives discovered the drugs den after searching a business unit in Hartshill.
Detectives discovered the drugs den after searching a business unit in Hartshill.
POLICE have seized more than £20,000 worth of cannabis – after raiding a business in the hunt for a stolen car.
Detectives discovered the drugs den after searching a business unit in Hartshill.
They also seized a number of suspected stolen cars, car parts and other equipment.
Now a 25-year-old Stoke-on-Trent man is being questioned after being arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
Detectives investigating a burglary secured the search warrant in the hunt for a stolen car.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “A number of suspected stolen cars, car parts and other equipment have been seized.
“Further searches of the premises uncovered around 100 cannabis plants which are estimated to have a street value of over £20,000.
“A full forensic search of the location is underway to secure potential evidence while detectives continue with their inquiries.”
The discovery of the drugs den at Hartshill Road has stunned residents and businesses.
A spokesman at nearby Bowyers Beds and Carpets said: “There have been strange goings-on. I’d often get the odd whiff of marijuana when I walked past the unit in the summer but I didn’t think anything of it.
“This week a few police cars arrived, a riot van turned up, and bang, bang, bang they were in the place. I spotted one come out with a crowbar so there was obviously something in there that they wanted to open.
“You don’t realise things like this can go on so close to you and I certainly didn’t expect this at a business.”
Hartshill and Harpfields Residents’ Association has previously complained about the business. Chairman Reg Edwards said: “The discovery is a bit of a surprise because you never think the police would have found £20,000 worth of cannabis upstairs. We have had a lot of planning issues with the business.”
Police forensics officers remained at the scene yesterday afternoon. Kirsty Cooper, aged 21, of Vicarage Road, Hartshill, said: “I spotted the police cars when I drove past the site. I could see the forensics van there, which made me think something serious was going on. It is a huge shock that something like this has happened.”
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