10,000 plants worth millions found at 'biggest ever' cannabis farm in Darwen

The street value of the class B drug found runs into millions of pounds.

Detectives arrested three men after the raid on industrial units at the Apex Trading Estate, Lower Eccleshill, Darwen, at 10am on Tuesday

There were between 8,000 to 10,000 plants inside at various stages of growth.

As well as the plants, the police officers discovered large amounts of electrical equipment for their cultivation and beds and sleeping bags for those looking after them

Cllr Damian Talbot, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s health and wellbeing boss, and local ward Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Browne welcomed the discovery.

A police spokesman said: “This is believed to be the biggest ever cannabis farm found in Lancashire.

“We will continue to target those taking part in this illegal activity and will act on information passed to us to disrupt and ultimately prevent those involved in the drugs trade from operating on our streets.

“Cannabis can have lasting physical and mental health effects on users as well as having a negative effect on our communities and fuelling other crime and we are determined to tackle that.”

The discovery comes after the headteacher of Longshaw Infants School had to warn parents about their children coming to school smelling of cannabis. Darwen East’s Cllr Browne said: “This is staggering, unbelievably alarming.

“How long has it been there? I am over the moon the police found it. Drugs are a menace to society.”

Cllr Talbot, a former Longshaw Infants pupil, said: “I am pleased at this action. The disturbing incident at Longshaw shows how far cannabis and drugs spread into society,"

Two men aged 24 and one aged 31 were arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis and were detained in custody.

The police spokesman said: “We need the public to continue to work with us to help us tackle drug crime by informing us of any suspicious activity."