kmilanian@thekmgroup.co.uk

A cannabis factory with plants worth an estimated £50,000 was found in a police raid.

Officers from Medway’s Neighbourhood Task Team (NTT) were called after residents saw three men who appeared to break into a house in Quickthorn Cresent, Chatham,

The team discovered that the house had been converted to cultivate cannabis, with approximately 575 plants found inside.

Sgt Emma Satherley said: "This example shows how the quick thinking of residents can help in the fight against illegal drugs. This was a considerable haul with an estimated street value in the region of £50,000.

"We are satisfied that we have taken a significant amount of drugs off of the streets of Kent and ask that if any residents believe that there is illegal drug activity where they live to contact Kent Police.

"It is with help from the community that we can get results such as this. Officers are now investigating this find and are asking anyone with information to come forward."

The cannabis factory was found on August 27 but details have only just been released by police.

Police in Medway are asking residents to be on the look out for signs of possible illegal drugs activity, which include windows being permanently covered from the inside, visits to the addresses not matching normal residents patterns, offenders perhaps calling daily or weekly but only for short periods.

There may also be compost bags and other gardening equipment in the garden close to the back door.
Other signs may include a pungent smell emanating from the property and sometimes a vent protruding from the roof tiles will be visible.
If you have information about or suspicions of illegal drug activity in your neighbourhood, contact police on 01634 891055 or call Kent CrimeStoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Keyan Milanian