Four arrested after Rotherham police seize cannabis plants worth £270,000

Officers raiding two addresses in the Eastwood area of Rotherham found 322 plants worth around £270,000 and a quantity of cropped plants worth a further £20,000.

Sergeant Dave Baines, of the Rotherham central policing team, said: “This is a significant drugs seizure and we must extend our thanks to the local community, which has led our intelligence gathering efforts.

“Without the public’s input we might have missed this opportunity, which highlights how important engagement is in the disruption of criminality.”

Sgt Baines and his colleagues form a problem solving team that deals primarily with tackling issues that are of concern to the community - ranging from nuisance and anti-social behaviour to drug-dealing and disrupting criminality.

The five-strong team has seized a total of £300,000 worth of drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin, since the start of the year.

In addition to the drugs haul, the team recently recovered £2,000 worth of counterfeit cigarettes and worked with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council trading standards officers to support an investigation into their origin.

Sgt Baines added: “We’ve had a positive impact in the early weeks of 2017. Over 50 people have been arrested and 11 warrants executed, but there will be no let-up in tackling the issues that are of priority to our community.”

Four men, aged between 27 and 37 years old, were arrested on suspicion of producing cannabis and immigration offences.

Two of the men have been bailed pending further enquiries and the UK Border Agency is dealing with the other suspects.