A massive cannabis factory worth $132,000 has been dismantled after clumsy drug dealers set up shop right across the street from a police station.
The brazen dealers decided to set up large-scale cultivation in two empty shops just 30 feet from Droitwich Police Station in Worcestershire.
The distracted officers were alerted to the strong smell by a member of the public before raiding the farm which was right under their noses.
Officers armed with a chainsaw cut their way inside and found a suspect hiding in the attic and 100 plants worth an estimated $160,000.
The man was arrested on suspicion of cannabis production before being taken to Worcester Police Station for interview.
Residents living on Ombersley Street East, where the cannabis farm was found in two vacant neighbouring shops, spoke of their shock at the audacity of the location.
One resident, who did not want to be named, said: “I can't believe they are so brazen.”
“What is that? About 30 feet from the police station? It’s literally across the street.”
West Mercia Police said members of the public had reported the smell before they raided the premises just metres from the station at around 8am on Wednesday.
The arrest was made after Constable Matt Shore, from West Mercia Police, followed his instincts and found the suspect hiding inside the loft's insulation.
He noticed a recently smoked cigarette before making a cut in the fabric and finding a man crouched behind it.
Sergeant Shaun Blackshaw said: “We are actively targeting cannabis growers in Droitwich and elsewhere in south Worcestershire.
“Organized gangs will soon realize that they will not be tolerated in this area.”
The plants were found in seven different rooms: the ground floor, two rooms on the first floor in one shop, two in the second shop and in the attic spaces of both empty commercial premises.
There had been a power cut, creating a fire hazard, so police contacted National Grid to ensure the safety of the property.
Charles Moyle, High Sheriff of Worcestershire and Justice of the Peace, observed the execution of the order.
He said: “They are hiding in plain sight, right in front of a police station. That surprised me and shocked me.”
“It's incredible that they chose an area where children walk to school and where the police keep the streets safe. It's extraordinary.
“Officers across West Mercia are trying to tackle the epidemic of drug-related crime.
“They are also doing brilliant work tackling the scourge of domestic violence and, working in very difficult circumstances, keeping girls and women safe.
“They are doing everything they can to keep the streets clean of drugs.”
