A brazen cannabis farmer set up a large grow in empty shops under the noses of police as officers with a chainsaw cut their way inside to find a suspect hiding in the loft.

Officers cut their way into the cannabis grow inside two vacant neighbouring shops in Ombersley Street East, opposite Droitwich Police Station today (Wednesday).

Inside the shops police recovered 176 cannabis plants with a maximum street value of more than £147,000. 

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "I can't believe the brass neck of them. What is it, about 30ft from the police station? It's literally across the road."

An arrest was made after PC Matt Shore, an NCFT officer, followed his instincts, finding the suspect hiding inside loft insulation. He noticed a recently smoked cigarette before he cut a slit in material to find a man crouching down behind it.

The suspect was taken to Worcester Police Station to be interviewed by officers after he was arrested on suspicion of the production of cannabis. 

Led by officers from West Mercia Police's Neighbourhood Crimefighting Team (NCFT) for South Worcestershire, the team discovered the plants spread across two empty shops when police cut a hole in the glass at around 8am this morning.

The raid, which has put the operation out of business, was strategically timed to cause as much damage to the illegal trade as possible for maximum impact on those who profit from the sale of the class B drug.

 

DRAMA: A Task Force police officer with a chainsaw cuts his way into the empty shops in Omberlsey Street East DRAMA: A Task Force police officer with a chainsaw cuts his way into the empty shops in Omberlsey Street East (Image: Charles Moyle)

It follows a string of successful warrants in Droitwich High Street, Hanbury and on a trading estate in Eardiston, near Tenbury Wells which have led to the seizure and destruction of thousands of cannabis plants and left six jailed Albanian criminals facing deportation.

So far the intervention of the NCFT, working with other partners in West Mercia Police, has resulted in more than 2,000 cannabis plants being seized and destroyed. Drugs with an estimated street value of around £1.85 million were stopped from reaching users.

DYNAMIC: Officers cut their way into the cannabis grow through a window in the empty shop in Ombersley Street East in Droitwich DYNAMIC: Officers cut their way into the cannabis grow through a window in the empty shop in Ombersley Street East in Droitwich (Image: Charles Moyle)

Officers from both Task Force and the Droitwich Neighbourhood Team were involved in the warrant which found plants in seven different rooms - the ground floor, two first-floor rooms in one shop, two in the second shop with more plants in the loft spaces of both vacant business premises.

RESULT: The plants were spread out across seven rooms spread across two vacant shops in Ombersley Street East in Droitwich RESULT: The plants were spread out across seven rooms spread across two vacant shops in Ombersley Street East in Droitwich (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Sgt Shaun Blackshaw of the NCFT said members of the public reported the smell and they acted on the intelligence at a time calculated to deliver the maximum impact.

PRAISE: High Sheriff of Worcestershire, Charles Moyle, witnessed the raid first hand and praised West Mercia Police for the dedication shown by its officers in the stamping out the 'epidemic' of drugs across south Worcestershire, including in Droitwich PRAISE: High Sheriff of Worcestershire, Charles Moyle, witnessed the raid first hand and praised West Mercia Police for the dedication shown by its officers in the stamping out the 'epidemic' of drugs across south Worcestershire, including in Droitwich (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

 

"We are actively targeting cannabis growers in Droitwich and elsewhere in South Worcestershire. Organised gangs will soon realise it will not be tolerated in this area," he said.

IMPACT: Task Force made their presence felt during the raid at Omberlsey Street East in Droitwich as drugs were seized IMPACT: Task Force made their presence felt during the raid at Omberlsey Street East in Droitwich as drugs were seized (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Charles Moyle, High Sheriff of Worcestershire and a JP, observed the warrant being executed and took dramatic photos showing officers smashing their way inside.

He said: "Officers are, throughout West Mercia, trying to tackle the epidemic of drug-related crime. They are also doing a brilliant job tackling the scourge of domestic violence and, working under very difficult circumstances, keeping girls and women safe.

FIND: PC Matt Shore inspects one of seven rooms full of cannabis plants in the grow at Ombersley Street East in Droitwich FIND: PC Matt Shore inspects one of seven rooms full of cannabis plants in the grow at Ombersley Street East in Droitwich (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

"They are doing their absolute best to keep the streets clean of drugs."

He said of the grow itself: £They're hiding in plain sight, right opposite a police station. That shocked and surprised me. 

"It's beyond belief they should choose an area where children walk to school and where police are keeping the streets safe. It's extraordinary."

SEIZED: More cannabis plants at the vacant shops in Ombersley Street East in Droitwich SEIZED: More cannabis plants at the vacant shops in Ombersley Street East in Droitwich (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

 

RECOMMENDED READING: Cannabis farm discovered in Droitwich near police station

RECOMMENDED READING: Worcestershire cannabis raids: 6 Albanians face deportation

The electricity had been bypassed which is considered a fire hazard. As a result, police contacted the National Grid to make the property safe. 

We reported in July how, in less than a year, the force has seized and destroyed almost £2 million pounds worth of the class B drug in these warrants alone as officers vow to hit dealers 'where it hurts'.