Arrests made after cannabis farm growing £50k of drugs found in Hornchurch

A large cannabis cultivation was discovered inside a house in Hornchurch (credit: Essex Police)

Two men have been arrested following the discovery of a large cannabis farm in Hornchurch.

Officers found plants believed to have a total street value of more than £50,000 after they executed a warrant in an outbuilding off Morecambe Close on Monday 22 January.

The raid was carried out as part of an Essex police investigation.

Once inside, they found 100 large cannabis plants, 22 medium size cannabis plants and 5,834 cannabis saplings.

The plants have now been seized and assessed.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of producing a Class B drug. One of them was also arrested on suspicion of abstracting electricity.

Both have been released on conditional bail whilst enquiries continue.

Detective Sergeant Mike Monkton said: “This was a large-scale cultivation, with clear plans for continued use. Each of these plants have now been seized for assessment and destruction.

“The growing of cannabis on a large scale is intrinsically linked to other criminal and gang activities.

“We also know the proceeds of cannabis sale fuels other criminal activity such as county lines, money laundering and drug and human trafficking. As a force, we work determinedly to tackle those issues.”