Police raid suspected drug factory in Bradpole (From Thisisdorset)

Police raid suspected drug factory in Bradpole

8:50am Saturday 4th July 2009

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A SUSPECTED drugs factory has been raided by police in West Dorset.

Officers raided the converted house in Church Close, Bradpole, and found a sizeable number of almost fully grown plants, thought to be cannabis, that could have been just days from sale on Dorset's streets.

The dusk raid came after neighbours noticed suspicious activity at the address.

After officers smashed their way into the building they discovered several rooms converted to grow cannabis, along with drugs paraphernalia and advanced hydroponics equipment.

It follows a warning by a recent warning from Bridport Police section commander, Inspector Alan Jenkins, that there would be no hiding place for anyone connected with the supply of drugs in West Dorset.

Inspector Jenkins said the majority of plants were located in the main room of the house targeted in the latest raid.

He added: "Whenever information is learned about illegal drug use, cultivation and distribution, we take swift and proactive action to arrest those persons believed to be responsible."

Police sealed off the Church Close address while forensics officers carried out a detailed search of the property.

Electricity engineers accompanied police to ensure the house was safe - in many cannabis factories the power supply has been tampered with to run equipment. In some cases the factories have even been booby trapped.

A typical factory, in a converted suburban house, can net drugs gangs around £30,000 every three months.

Many of these profits are then ploughed back into more serious crime.

Earlier this year Inspector Jenkins stressed there would be no tolerance for any type of drug and called on residents to contact police if they had any information.

He spoke after officers carried out three dawn raids on three different Bridport homes in a major anti-drugs operation following tip-offs.

After the May raids, which resulted in four people charged with possession of cannabis, Insp Jenkins said: "We are determined to keep Bridport one of the safest towns in the country.

"We will not tolerate drugs and wherever possible or appropriate we will take proactive action.

"We will target Class B and C drugs as these are often a 'gateway' to users going on to Class A.

"We take these 'gateway' drugs seriously because of the consequences."

A Bridport man, aged 27, and a 19-year-old Bridport women were arrested after Thursday's raid. They have been released on police bail as enquiries continue.

Anyone with information has been urged to contact Bridport police on 01305 222 222.

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