More than 200 cannabis plants have been seized and one man charged after aerial thermal pictures highlighted suspicious activity at an address in Gateshead.
At around midday on Wednesday (September 18), police executed a warrant at a property in the Birtley area following various lines of enquiry and intelligence gathering as part of Operation Vienna.
This included support from the National Police Air Service, which captured images of heat radiating from the property’s roof.
Once inside, officers discovered a complex drugs set-up supporting hundreds of cannabis plants across three rooms in the address.
A 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene and later charged with production of cannabis.
He appeared before magistrates in South Tyneside yesterday (Thursday). Following the hearing he was remanded in custody and is due to appear before Newcastle Crown Court next month.
This activity is the latest in a string of clampdowns carried out by the Vienna team, which brings police and partners in the local authority closer together to tackle crime and disorder.
Praising the partnership approach, Sergeant Nicholas Minto, of Northumbria Police’s Gateshead Neighbourhood Policing team, said: “This is a great example of everyone working together to put a stop to this illicit activity, which was having such a negative impact on the local community.
“As well as the proceeds from the production of cannabis funding more serious and organised criminality, the electrical bypasses involved in this type of activity are dangerous and pose a huge safety risk.
“Nobody wants illicit activity such as this on their doorstep and if you notice anything suspicious in your area, please continue to report it to us.
“We are listening to your concerns and will continue to act on information shared with us.”
Anyone with information about suspected criminality, can contact Northumbria Police by sending a direct message on social media, visiting the live chat on the Force website or by going to the ‘Report’ section of the website.
For those unable to contact police this way, call 101.
In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always call 999.
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