MORE than £100,000 worth of cannabis has been seized after a major crackdown by police.

Officers have targeted properties across East Lancashire executing a series of warrants and uncovered almost 300 plants.

Yesterday, four homes in Rishton were raided in Hermitage Street and Chapel Street with 16 plants found and equipment used to produce cannabis seized.

And in the past week, a further four warrants have been executed with two in the Blackburn area resulting in the seizure of 52 plants in various states of growth.

Officers said two people are currently assisting police with their enquires.

The crackdown started in July when police raided 15 properties over the course of the month in the Blackburn, Burnley, Darwen and Accrington.

They discovered 210 cannabis plants in various stages of growth and 10 people were arrested.

Det Insp Simon Upton, who has led the investigation, said: “These raids are part of our ongoing commitment to tackling drugs.

“Cannabis cultivation, particularly commercial cultivation, is a problem that affects all areas of the country but we are determined to tackle it in East Lancashire.

“It feeds a multi-million pound black market in increasingly potent and dangerous cannabis which can have lasting physical and mental health effects on users.

“It can also have such a negative effect on our communities, fuelling other crime and instilling fear in our neighbourhoods, and we are determined to tackle that.”

Between January and June this year, 146 cannabis cultivation offences were recorded in Lancashire where there were five plants or more and 7,077 plants were seized in total, at an approximate value of £400 per plant.

That equates to £2,830,800 for fully grown plants.

DI Upton added: “We are determined to bring the full weight of the law against those engaged in this dangerous and exploitative criminal activity and we ask everyone to remain vigilant.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.