Abandoned pub hides £2.5 MILLION CANNABIS FARM | Durham Police call last orders

Officers have arrested 17 people and taken drugs and weapons off the streets in their relentless pursuit of prolific offenders.

The 14 men and three women, were arrested for a range of offences including burglary, criminal damage, theft, child neglect and the cultivation of cannabis.

As part of the day of action yesterday for Operation Trident, which is Durham Constabulary’s response to tackling neighbourhood crime, officers were out and about early giving suspects an unexpected and unwanted wake-up calls.

Today’s result brings the total arrested during this operation to more than 50 in less than three months and suspected criminals are being warned if you are on the list, you will be caught.

Up to 30 officers visited several addresses across the force area, including Peterlee, Darlington, and Stanley, to locate their identified targets.

Like with previous days of action, warrants were obtained for some properties, but in other cases, officers just knocked on the door.

A cannabis farm, with an estimated street value of approximately £2m, was uncovered in Easington Colliery during the operation and subsequently dismantled and removed.

Weapons, drugs and a quantity of cash were also seized at other addresses.

Superintendent Lee Gosling, of Durham Constabulary, said: “These are some of the most prolific offenders who are causing misery to the communities in which they live.

“If you are prepared to commit a crime, then you must be prepared to face the consequences. This kind of action by the force will continue, and anyone breaking the law could be next on the Trident list.

“We will continue to use all the resources at our disposal to catch these people.

“We know our communities will not tolerate this kind of criminality and we would like to thank the public for their continued support.”

“If you have any information regarding potential criminality in your community then please report it to us - we will always act on intelligence submitted to us.

Anyone with any information about suspicious activity happening in their area can share it via our live chat on our website at durhampolice.co.uk.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.