Five arrests as large cannabis factory worth £750k raided in small West Yorkshire village

Five people have been arrested after more than 700 cannabis plants were discovered in Upton, near Wakefield, in the large operation.

Officers raided nine properties in November as part of an ongoing investigation with Wakefield CID and West Yorkshire Police’s Programme Precision into drugs supply in the district.

It is believed the street value of the recovered plants, when cultivated, would be more than £750,000.

Police raided properties in Clayton Avenue, Smeaton Road, Cross Street and Tom Wood Ash Lane where they discovered large cannabis farms.

They seized 397 plants from a property in Clayton Avenue, while 72 plants were found at one property on Smeaton Road and 38 at another on the same road.

Five suspects have been arrested and weapons were seized, including a bladed weapon and suspected pepper spray.

The police helicopter was called in to help pinpoint suspected properties.

Programme Precision is West Yorkshire Police’s ongoing large scale crackdown on serious organised crime in West Yorkshire.

Temporary Inspector David Lockwood of the Wakefield East and South East Neighborhood Policing Team said: “This has been a large scale operation in which neighbourhood policing team officers have worked closely with colleagues from CID and NPAS to target ongoing drugs crime within a small local community.

“A substantial amount of high value cannabis has been taken as a result of the raids, and we have no doubt the scale of this operation will send a very clear message to those involved in crime that we have the capability to act quickly and at scale to dismantle drugs factories wherever they appear.

“Residents should not have to stand for this sort of large scale drugs manufacture and criminal activity ongoing on their streets and communities, and we can promise all intelligence we receive will be investigated.

“I would urge anyone who has information about the supply of drugs of any type of crime in their area to make a report via 101 or online at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat.

"Information can also be reported anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.”

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