CHATTERIS: �120,000 worth of cannabis found in raid

By ADAM LAZZARI FOR the second time in just four days a massive drugs raid has been carried out in Fenland. Police forced their way into a small three-bedroom house on Huntingdon Road, Chatteris at 2.30pm today (Friday) and found approximately 500 cannabi

By ADAM LAZZARI

FOR the second time in just four days a massive drugs raid has been carried out in Fenland.

Police forced their way into a small three-bedroom house on Huntingdon Road, Chatteris at 2.30pm today (Friday) and found approximately 500 cannabis plants, believed to be worth �120,000.

Cambridge police's drugs liaison officer believes the plants have a street value of �240 each.

Today's raid follows a raid at Norwood Road, March on Tuesday in which approximately 400 cannabis plants, thought to be worth �96,000, were found.

Sergeant Rob Norman, from Chatteris Police Station, said the two raids may be linked and more raids could be carried out in the near future.

He said at the scene: "Today's raid was carried out following intelligence gathered by the local neighbourhood policing team, through their contacts with the local community.

"Like Tuesday's raid in March, there has been a very successful outcome and we are not ruling out that the two raids are linked."

Today's raid has involved six police officers and two police community support officers.

Police discovered cannabis plants in all but one small downstairs bedroom of the house and the plants were at all stages of cultivation.

Growing equipment was said to be using 93 amps of electricity, three times the amount of power normally used at a house of that size.

Officers were expected to work at the house until early Friday evening and the plants and growing equipment will be taken to a police station to be used as evidence.

Sgt Norman said: "I'm very pleased that my team is doing a very good job to ensure that drugs are being taken off the streets.

"I would also like to thank the local community for helping us and providing good information. If it wasn't for their support we would not be able to work and get successful results like this.

"I would also urge anyone who feels they may have further useful information and who think people may be growing drugs in their neighbourhood to get in touch with us."

* A man, believed to be in his late 30s, was arrested at the scene of today's raid and has been taken to Wisbech Police Station.

Cambridgeshire police can be contacted by ringing 0845 4564564.