Police find massive cannabis factory in West Sussex
Three people have been arrested
Last updated 6th Jan 2021
A large cannabis factory with around 800 plants has been discovered by police officers in West Sussex.
The county's Tactical Enforcement Unit were on patrol on Sunday (January 3rd) when they saw a van being driven into an open industrial unit in Imberhorne Way in East Grinstead..
Believing the building to contain plants, the officers carried out a search and found 564 cannabis plants inside.
They arrested a 26-year-old man from Horley in Surrey at the scene on suspicion of being concerned in the production of cannabis.
The TEU team then became suspicious about a neighbouring unit where cannabis could also be smelt.
Another vehicle then arrived at the site and a man aged 31 and a 22-year-old woman, both from East Grinstead, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the production of cannabis.
The man was also detained on suspicion of being in possession of an offensive weapon.
A search of this unit found another 252 cannabis plants.
The 26-year-old man who was arrested has been released on bail until February 1st and the other man and woman who were detained have been released under investigation pending further enquiries.
Sergeant Chris Bryant from the West Sussex TEU said:
"We were able to disrupt a significant large scale cannabis factory and seize hundreds of plants and drugs which would have ended up being sold on the streets of Sussex.
"Our priority is to help keep communities safe and feeling safe and preventing crime."
Those with information about potential drug dealing are being asked to report to Sussex Police online or ring 101.