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Drugs raid at Esk Valley farm
POLICE have recovered 40 cannabis plants after a drugs raid at a farm in Lealholm.
The move came after a 51-year-old man from the village was stopped during a routine vehicle check by police in Stokesley on Thursday night.
Officers from North Yorkshire Police were carrying out cross border checks where they were randomly stopping vehicles late at night.
The man was found to be in possession of a small quantity of the Class B drug but after further inquiries they raided a farm in Lealholm at 9.30am on Friday morning.
Five officers from Whitby Police took part in the raid where they found the 40 plants in various stages of growth inside the loft of the farmhouse.
They have since been taken away for forensic analysis to see what the likely yield – the amount of cannabis that can be produced from the plants – will be.
Lighting equipment which was being used to help grow the plants was also removed.
Inspector Mark Grange of Whitby Police said it appears cannabis was being grown at the farm for some time.
And he said at this stage it is too early to say as to what the street value of the drug is.
He said: "The penalty for supply and possession of drugs has increased and unfortunately people we deal with believe cannabis is legal.
"We will continue to carry out searches and arrest people where information and intelligence directs us to."
The 51-year-old man has since been arrested for a further offence of cultivation of cannabis plants and has been released on police bail while forensic examinations on the plants are carried out.
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Weather for Whitby
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
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Wind direction: South
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Sunny spells
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