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£200,000 cannabis farm found by builder
A BUILDER uncovered a £200,000 cannabis farm when he turned up at a house to do some renovation work.
Drugs worth up to 200,000 were found in a "sophisticated" cannabis farm in every main room of the property.
Detectives say the haul is linked to organised crime.
The property was privately rented by a landlord who alerted police and described drug cultivation equipment as "machinery".
Police have not yet been able to trace the previous tenant of the house, in Meadow Road, Trimdon Station.
The discovery was made around 10am on Monday by a builder sent to carry out work on the semi-detached property.
Police were called in, and discovered 200 cannabis plants in various stages of growth.
Detective Constable Mark Forster, of Durham Police, said: "It was like other sophisticated farms that have been found in other parts of the county and it is obviously linked to organised crime.
"The house was rented out at the beginning of the year and the landlord has obviously been totally unaware of what has been going on.
"The builder was sent to do some work on the house and that was when the discovery was made."
Forensic officers were at the house on Monday and yesterday and the drugs will be sent away for analysis.
Det Con Forster added: "We are appealing to anyone who has information about these premises and in particular about the tenant, who has disappeared from the premises."
The find follows a similar-sized haul of 230 cannabis plants worth 69,000 which were found during a police raid at a house in Chesterton Road, in the Rift House area of Hartlepool, last month.
The street value of the drugs depends on the maturity of the plants at the time they are discovered.
Anyone who can help should call Durham Police on 0345 6060365 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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