Seven arrested as police seize £1.2m worth of cannabis at Crawley drug factories

A series of drugs warrants have led to the arrest of seven people, and the discovery of more than 1,400 cannabis plants, in Crawley over the last two weeks. Officers launched an investigation into cannabis cultivation sites after stumbling upon some 800 cannabis plants, together with equipment used for their cultivation, when responding to a report of intruders at an address in Tennyson Close on February 2. Two men, aged 38 and 35, were arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis and released under investigation. Police said they then executed drugs warrants at nine other addresses between February 6 and February 14. Equipment for cannabis production was found at all of the addresses, and cannabis in various stages of cultivation was found at all but one of the searched properties. Timeline, according to police February 6: Around 110 cannabis plants found at an address in Cowfold Close. February 10: Around 250 cannabis plants found at an address in St Mary's Drive, Three Bridges, and in Lingfield Drive, Worth. Two men aged 21 were arrested at the address in Three Bridges, and two men aged 31 and 27, and a woman aged 35, were arrested at the address in Worth, all on suspicion of cannabis cultivation. They were all released under investigation. February 12: No arrests were made, but a number of people were found and interviewed at an address in Woodfield Road. Around 70 cannabis plants were found at an address in Dobson Road, no arrests were made. February 13: Around 120 plants were found at three addresses, one in Alpha Road, and two in Forester Road. Nobody was present at any of the three addresses. February 14: Around 60 plants were found at an address in Caburn Heights, and a large number of plants were found at an address in Gossops Drive. Nobody was at either address. Police said the seven people arrested and released under investigation were also referred to Immigration Enforcement for further enquiries about their status in the UK. Four others were referred to specialist support services as potential victims of modern slavery. Two other men, aged 31 and 32, from London E15, have been interviewed by appointment under caution on suspicion of human trafficking offences. The total potential value of the more than 1,400 plants seized is currently assessed as some £1.2 million. DI Cheryl Lewendon said: "We have completely disrupted a fully planned commercial project which appears to have been operating for several months, and was aimed at bringing illegal drugs on to the streets of Crawley and the surrounding area on a large scale. "This is a large scale investigation in which we have had support from police and staff of our Crawley Prevention Enforcement Team, and also from colleagues across West Sussex as well as the force's new Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU). "However our enquiries are continuing to trace other people we suspect of being involved in the organisation and management of these sites." Anyone with information is asked to contact 101, quoting Operation Forfar.

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