Police seize two tonnes of cannabis in farm raid

Angela FergusonNorth West
News imageGreater Manchester Police Two large piles of bags, most of them white, are in two adjoining rooms.Greater Manchester Police
The cannabis seized is said by police to have a street value of about £24m

Police have recovered about two tonnes of cannabis from a tenement farm in what is believed to be one of the largest ever seizures of its kind in the UK.

Bagfuls of the class B drug with an estimated street value of about £24m were seized from a property in Blackrod, Bolton, on Friday, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

Det Supt Joe Harrop said officers had "uncovered a large-scale and sophisticated illegal operation at the location, housing a significant volume of illegal drugs".

Two men, aged 27 and 35, have been arrested on suspicion of drug offences and remain in custody for questioning.

News imageGreater Manchester Police Two police vans and a police lorry with Operation Vulcan on the side are parked outside an outbuilding, with large bags piled up at the back of it. The shutters at the front of the outbuilding are down.Greater Manchester Police
The drugs were seized from a property at Leigh Tenement Farm in Blackrod, Bolton, police said

A GMP spokesperson said officers found the drugs after executing a warrant at the property on Leigh Tenement Farm.

"This is believed to be one of the largest single UK seizures of cannabis," they added.

Harrop, from the force's Serious Crime Division, said: "This seizure marks a major success for our officers - it removes a major source of harm, disrupts criminal networks and helps make neighbourhoods safer."

News imageGreater Manchester Police A large pile of bags of cannabis are on the floor of an outbuilding. Greater Manchester Police
The cannabis was recovered from the property on Friday, police said

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