POLICE investigating a group of Vietnamese people suspected of running cannabis farms in County Durham have raided another property.
Officers from Durham police discovered a cannabis farm at a house in Darlington earlier today (Friday, October 19) and arrested two people.
The action takes the total number of arrests to 17 suspects of Vietnamese origin.
The investigation began almost four weeks ago when a cannabis growing operation was discovered at a house in Ferryhill. Similar finds were subsequently made at Shildon and Croxdale.
Of those arrested, 12 have been charged with offences relating to the cultivation of cannabis and a court case is pending.
Three have been detained by the UK Border Agency which is working with police to determine the imigration status of those arrested.
The two arrested today (Friday, October 19) remain in police custody.
Detectives have also visited addresses in St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, and Gateshead where no drugs were found but officers are investigating individuals who may be associated with the operation.
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