Cannisbis factory uncovered

Detective Inspector Sean Fitzpatrick praised the "good detective" work by officers after a man in his 20s was arrested following a search of a house in the Millburn Road area of Coleraine.

Police recovered 250 cannabis plants in the raid worth approximately 125,000. The man continues to help police with their enquiries.

Detective Inspector Fitzpatrick described the haul as "cannabis factory".

He said: "Police following up inquiries into another incident came across the drugs.

"This was good detection work by the police, it was not an intelligence-led operation."

A police forensic team of up to 25 officers were still working on the scene on Monday, taking fingerprints and gathering evidence.

Officers were seen dumping the plants into a skip.

A file will be prepared for the Public Prosecution Service.

Detective Inspector Fitzpatrick added: "There seems to be a prevailing mentality that cannabis use is acceptable.

"But I would remind the public that it is a Class B drug and those who get hooked on it can suffer depression and other mental health problems.

"Anyone caught with cannabis will be prosecuted and we will carry out follow up searches of the person's house under the Article 20 of the Misuse of Drugs Act."

DUP MLA for East Londonderry, Adrian McQuillan, welcomed the seizure.

He said: "It is very important that we get this illegal drug off our streets.

"I am pleased that an arrest has been made and the drug is now in the hands of the authorities.

"I commend the PSNI who appear to be working hard in tackling drug dealers and their factories.

"Cannabis is known to be a starting point for many drug users who then go on to use more harmful drugs.

"This is therefore welcome news and it's good to know that the sum of 125,000 will not be going into the hands of drug dealers."