POLICE have arrested a man and shut down a £500,000 cannabis

factory at an isolated mid-Cornwall farm.

Police discovered the full-scale commercial enterprise

during the dramatic drugs bust at a remote farm near Luxulyan

last Tuesday.

At the scene they arrested a 25-year-old man, who has since

been charged with the production of a Class C drug and is

currently on police bail.

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary's senior inspector for

mid-Cornwall Jim Pearce said: "We are currently investigating

and have more work to do.

"At this stage we can't say much more, but we would like

people to know we consider drug offences very seriously and

won't tolerate this kind of crime."

In one isolated building police discovered 50 cannabis

plants which would have produced drugs with a street value of

around £23,500.

In another barn they found benches, a hydroponic watering

system, ventilation, and specialised lighting, which it is

thought had been used to grow cannabis plants on a substantial

scale.

In the farmhouse they also seized a sack of white powder,

suspected to be a Class A drug, which could have a street value

of around £33,500.

Insp Pearce said: "A great deal of money has been spent on

the site, which is a highly organised and carefully planned

commercial enterprise, capable of earning hundreds of thousands

of pounds.

"The location is not being revealed at the moment, but

though it's remote, people out for a walk may have passed

it.

"With this crime as with any other, we would ask people to

make a note of anything suspicious they see, including vehicle

registration numbers, and either report the information to

police on 08452 777444 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on

0800 555 111.

"They can be assured they can give us information in

confidence and we shall act upon it."

Police believe the cannabis factory may have been in

operation for a while. They are not yet sure how many people

were involved, but are confident that more arrests will be

made. They also believe that most of the cannabis grown would

have been sold upcountry.

Insp Pearce said: "Enquiries are ongoing, but the scale of

the production suggests this was intended for wider

distribution than Cornwall. Cornwall is a very safe place to

live and does not have a major problem with drugs.

"Police take all drugs seriously, and though cannabis is now

a Class C drug, the Government is seriously thinking about

reclassifying it as Class B.

"It's not only the negative effects on users' health that

matters, but also the acquisitive crime associated with it. The

manufacture and sale of drugs has an effect on us all, which is

why it's important to put a stop to factories such as

this."