Pictures and video show inside South Shields cannabis farm worth £90,000 seized in police raid

Officers who raided a property on Hudson Street, in South Shields, on Tuesday, June 18 found a large cannabis farm with an estimated value of up to £90,000.

A 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of producing a controlled drug. He has since been released under investigation and inquiries are ongoing.

The plants have been seized and will be destroyed.

The electric had also been bypassed at the address to evade capture and avoid a big energy bell which officers say is not only illegal but could put lives at risk.

Sergeant Dave Green, of Northumbria Police, revealed inquiries into the discovery are ongoing and said cannabis farms of this nature can potentially be fatal for neighbouring residents.

“This was a significant discovery with a huge number of plants found in various stages of growth. It was clearly a large-scale criminal operation,” he said.

“Thankfully, we have now taken action to prevent offenders from making any further financial gain from this property. Officers remain at the scene as the clean-up operation continues and to carry out inquiries.

“These kind of operations can be sophisticated in nature and often have links to organised crime. It is therefore important that these illegal drugs are found, destroyed and taken off the streets of South Tyneside.

“The electric had also been bypassed at the address, which is not only illegal, but could have potentially fatal consequences for the occupants and those living in neighbouring properties.

“Nobody wants to live near a potential death-trap, as these cannabis farms can so often be. I would encourage anybody who believes somebody is using a property for this purpose to contact police.”

A resident who lives nearby, but who did not want to be named, told the Gazette that around “six or seven” police cars have been at Hudson Street, near to Tyne Dock Metro station, since around 10am on Tuesday, June 18.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 206 180619 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.