A MAN has been charged with drug production following a raid at a disused retail premises near Droitwich Police Station yesterday morning (Wednesday, September 18).
29-year-old, Jetmir Xhepmetaj, of no fixed abode was arrested at an address in Ombersley Street East on suspicion of producing controlled drugs.
He is due to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates Court today (Thursday, September 19).
During the raid, officers from Task Force gained entry during the drugs warrant which was support by the Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Team (NCFT), Droitwich Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) and a dog handler.
The force found 176 plants with an estimated street value of up to £147,480 in the living quarters and the shop areas of the premises. The plants will now be removed and destroyed.
A spokesperson for the NCFT said: “We executed the warrant today following community concerns around the illegal production of cannabis and intelligence which was subsequently developed from this.
“Cannabis grows such as this one are linked to organised crime gangs and those growing the crops are often themselves victims of modern-day slavery.
“We would also like to reassure members of the public that while these premises are close to Droitwich Police Station, we have been developing intelligence for some time now and executed our warrant this morning at a time designed to cause maximum disruption and cost to this organised criminal enterprise.”
