Cannabis raid wakes quiet street

11:29am Thursday 28th August 2008

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A cannabis factory was discovered by police in a quiet suburban street this morning.

A large police operation was launched in the early hours of this morning involving the force’s helicopter and dog teams after the discovery in Waverley Avenue, near Sutton Common.

At 3.30 am neighbours were awoken by the police helicopter flying low above the houses.

Witnesses saw four police vehicles in the street and a dog team searching local gardens for clues.

One witness, who lives in Waverley Avenue, said he saw some men in his garden. “I woke up when I heard all the noise, I looked out of my window and saw three young men jumping over fences.

“Some time after that the police arrived with the helicopter and started shining their torches around the gardens.”

The men who rented the property are believed to be Vietnamese.

Neighbours say they had only been there for a month and they worked in a local restaurant.

A spokesman for Sutton police said: “Sutton Police this morning raided an address in Waverley Avenue, Sutton, and found a quantity of cannabis growing.

“A young male, who was inside the property at the time, was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis. The investigation is continuing and the cannabis factory is being closed down."