Thousands of pounds worth of cannabis found in Black Country industrial unit

Batches of the illegal drug was found hanging inside the building off Hill Street in Smethwick, close to Rolfe Street train station.

Hundreds of plants were also discovered carpeting the floor of rooms inside the two storey unit when police burst in.

The large-scale drugs operation covered five rooms in total as part of the set up to produce cannabis for sale across the Midlands.

In total, 986 cannabis plants were seized with samples taken by specialists at the scene to be forensically tested.

West Midlands Police said the forensic experts were still working on creating an estimated street value for the haul.

West Midlands Police raided the premises in broad daylight on Wednesday afternoon following a 999 call to officers.

The discovery was made just before 4pm when members of the force's cannabis team joined neighbourhood police from Soho and Victoria.

Huge lights had been brought inside the building to help grow the illegal crop in pots which took up large areas of rooms.

Canvas sheeting surrounded much of the crop which were in varied stages of growth in the drugs den.

Fans and over ventilation equipment was also used by those growing the cannabis inside.

Electrical wires were also strewn throughout to help power equipment inside the premises close to the town centre.

Other plants had already been cultivated and were left hanging up to dry out before being prepared to be sold.

A force spokesman said: "No arrests have been made at present. A Forensic Scene Investigator attended this scene and an investigation is under way."

It comes as West Midlands Police have been lading a crackdown against drug crime and dealers in across the Black Country and Birmingham.

The Spring Safer 6 project has seen dawn raids taking place across Sandwell, Dudley, Wolverhampton and Birmingham.