Teenager charged after police raid huge cannabis farm with more than 400 plants

Peterlee Neighbourhood Police Team executed a search warrant after receiving reports of suspicious activity at a property in Wingate Lane, Wheatley Hill, where officers discovered more than 400 cannabis plants.

A 19-year-old, of no fixed address, has been charged with being concerned in the production of a controlled drug and is remanded in custody until he returns to court at a later date.

Neighbourhood Inspector Emma Kay has thanked the local community for their “invaluable” help in tackling suspected crime.

The seizure, which took place on Wednesday, May 27, is the latest in a series of recent drugs raids across East Durham.

Two Murton men and a third from Easington Colliery are due at Durham Crown Court later in June after more than 200 cannabis plants were recovered when officers raided five properties last month.

Thirteen men were remanded in custody after Durham Police discovered a large number of cannabis plants in a factory on the Whitehouse Business Park, on the South West Industrial Estate, Peterlee, in March.

Eight men are also in custody after a cannabis farm with what police labelled as the potential to generate hundreds of thousands of pounds was uncovered in Peterlee town centre’s landmark Ridgeway House office block in April.

The public can contact Durham Police with information about suspected crimes on 101 or by making an anonymous report to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.