Chronicle Live reports that a spokesperson for Northumbria Police stated that “at around 8am,” [they] “received a report of a suspected cannabis farm at a premises” and “as a precautionary measure, a number of businesses and residents were evacuated.” “A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the production of a Class B drug. He remains in police custody while enquiries are ongoing. Those evacuated have since been allowed to return to their properties.” Emergency services: Police, Fire Engines and the Gas Board, were all called to investigate the scene.
Pranzo Trattoria & Deli, an Italian on Station Road, posted on Facebook that “due to unforeseen circumstances” they have “been advised by Police to evacuate” and will “not be open today.” They also alerted everyone that the road is “blocked off,” and there was “no access.” Comments on the post were calling to “elaborate,” while others were aware of the “suspected cannabis farm.” Horticulture Coastal also announced their closure on Facebook, due to a “major police incident.”
This is not the first incident of cannabis trouble in the North East
A Reddit post in r/NewcastleUponTyne discussed the incident. While some comments were aware they “raided a weed farm and found uneasy gas bottles” others who live “just round the corner” were unaware until seeing the post. However, others are not best pleased with the resources used for this incident, shocked that the whole street was evacuated due to a Class B drug.
In June, also in Whitley Bay, Northumbria Police reported they had made five arrests and seized £10,000 in cash from a drug raid; discovering Class B drugs including cannabis. Later the same month, a cannabis plant was discovered in Highcliffe Gardens in Gateshead, containing approximately 200 plants worth around £215,000. In April of this year, £350,000 worth of cannabis plants were also seized by Northumbria Police in Gateshead. It is clear that this is not the first incident of cannabis trouble in the North East.
A study published earlier this week by Manchester Metropolitan University and Curaleaf Clinic, analysing samples of cannabis taken from Greater Manchester and Northumbria has concluded that 38% “contained a compound not found in the cannabis plant” and 43% did not contain anything “naturally derived’ from cannabis. 3% of the Northumbria sample showed growth of e.coli and salmonella, while an impressive 90% showed growth of mould and yeast.
We are awaiting further news on the story from Northumbria Police.
