POLICE have seized more than £1.5m worth of cannabis plants in a series of co-ordinated raids across County Durham.
Twelve people, one of whom is from Eastern Europe and the remainder thought to be of Vietnamese origin, were arrested during the operation and are being questioned at police stations across North Durham.
During the raids, carried out at around 9pm last night, around 1,000 cannabis plants were seized from a converted barn at Lanchester.
A further 700 were seized during raids on a three-storey property in Sacriston and a terreced house n Bowburn, while a semi in Ushaw Moor was also raided.
More than 30 detectives, supported by uniformed officers, were involved in the raids, which also netted cash and a number of vehicles.
The four properties were each sealed off and guarded overnight ahead of detailed searches due to take place this morning.
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