Police have discovered a ‘significant growing set-up’ of cannabis in a drugs raid in Hyde Park.

The alarm was raised by patrolling officers who became suspicious of a ‘strong smell of cannabis’ at the address on Norwood Terrace on Saturday evening.

A 27-year-old Vietnamese man was detained after police forced entry to the property and found over 450 plants of the Class B drug.

A Police spokesperson described a trend for the production of drugs in housing areas, adding that a thousand plants can be seized during a raid.

Speaking to Leeds Student, Inspector Howie Milner explained: “Organised criminals continue to try to use homes in residential streets to grow cannabis on a large scale, and we are determined to keep disrupting their activities”.

The man was later arrested on suspicion of producing cannabis and released on bail.

West Yorkshire Police recently announced plans to send 12,000 ‘scratch and sniff’ cards to residents in cannabis hotspots to help recognise the drug’s ‘sickly, sweet smell’.

WYP is urging the public to report boarded-up windows, homes receiving large amounts of electrical equipment, and other activity which may indicate involvement in the drugs trade.

Charlotte Mason

Photo: West Yorkshire Police