A cannabis farm worth over £1.7 million was uncovered by Darlington Police officers inside a disused office building. 

Following the discovery of the farm, two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the discovery. 

Acting on intelligence, Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team carried out a raid at the Haughton Road property. They found more than 2,000 plants, in various stages of growth, were found in 14 rooms spread over three floors, along with several thousand pounds' worth of cultivation and growing equipment.

Read more: 17 arrested in Easington Colliery, Durham, after cannabis farm found

The electricity meters were also discovered to have been bypassed, with power illegally extracted from the local substation. 

Two men, aged 32 and 34, were arrested in connection with the discovery and taken into police custody for questioning.

They have since been charged with the cultivation of cannabis and appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court. 

Experts from Durham Constabulary have also attended the scene to make the abandoned offices safe, and to dismantle and destroy the crops. 

Read next:

Inspector Dean Haythornthwaite, from Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “This is not simply ‘just a bit of cannabis’ – organised and extensive grows such as this are usually linked to serious and violent organised crime groups.

“They are also directly linked to the exploitation of vulnerable people and are major fire hazards too, putting neighbouring properties and those who live in them in serious danger.

“If you have concerns about potential drug dealing in your community, or have seen people acting suspiciously, then please report it to us. We will always act on intelligence to remove drugs off our streets and make our communities safer – as this case has shown."