An underground cannabis farm was part of an overnight drugs bust after four men in balaclavas led police to the site.
Police received calls reporting four men in balaclavas, spotted behind a business in Spennymoor, County Durham and officers blue-lit it to the scene.
The suspects made off but an intrigued police dog caught a whiff of a nearby container in a nearby allotment whilst searching the area.
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Police deployed a drone and spotted a strong heat source coming from the container, which had had its lock broken.
Officers soon found an underground cannabis grow full of mature plants in the 30ft space.
Just before 7am a black Mercedes was then seen pulling up to the gates of the site before quickly making a u-turn when the driver spotted officers on the scene.
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The driver led police on a chase down the A1 just over half an hour later.
A 45-year-old man from the Newcastle area, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the cultivation of cannabis and taken into police custody.
Police have destroyed the grow and enquiries are ongoing into tracing the other suspects.
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