POLICE seized £40,000 worth of cannabis plants during a town centre raid after concerns were raised by an electricity company.

A cannabis grow of more than 100 plants was recovered by police during a warrant on Blackwell Street in Kidderminster on Monday, August 12.

Officers were responding to a call from an electricity firm who were on a visit to a property. The call-out was in response to the firm’s concerns around the illegal production of cannabis at the address after its warrant officers were visiting due to high bills and non-payments.

West Mercia Police officers forced their way in and discovered a cannabis grow of around 100 to 150 plants, with an estimated street value of approximately £40,000.

The plants were growing across two separate areas of the building together with hydroponics and "sophisticated" wiring systems.

Officers confirmed the grow was removed and destroyed. They said that no arrests had been made as no one was in the property at the time, but enquires are ongoing.

A spokesperson for the Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Team (NCFT) said: “We were called out to an address on Blackwell Street following concerns raised by an electric company there may be a cannabis grow there.

"They had been attending due to non-payments and high bills.

“After entering the property, we discovered around 100 to 150 plants with an estimated street value of approximately £40,000 across two areas of the site.

“We are pleased to have disrupted this illegal enterprise which will be linked to an organised criminal gang whose actions reap harm on the communities we are here to protect and serve.

“The drugs they sell have a negative impact on our communities and can lead to other criminality, or the harm and exploitation of vulnerable people.

“Shutting down this grow shows we will not tolerate criminal activity within our communities, and that we will act on information provided to us by the public.”