POLICE had to get through heavily barricaded doors and avoid a suspected booby trap to raid properties thought to be connected to a suspected drug dealing gang.
On Monday, officers from Peterlee executed five drugs warrants at addresses on the East coast after receiving intelligence suggesting their connection to the illegal drugs trade.
Despite heavily barricaded doors and a suspected booby trap, officers discovered two large cannabis farms inside the addresses.
More than 200 cannabis plants were seized and the electricity meters in the properties were also found to have been bypassed.
Two men, found in separate properties in Easington Colliery and Murton, were arrested and appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Eliot Muhometaj, 19, of Thorpe Street, Easington Colliery, was charged with the cultivation of cannabis and abstracting electricity.
Nestor Metaliaj, 36, of Woods Terrace, Murton, was also charged with cultivating cannabis.
The men were remanded into custody and will next appear at Durham Crown Court on June 16.
Detective Inspector Mel Sutherland, of Durham Constabulary, thanked the public for their help in reporting suspicious activity.
He said: “Illegal drugs can ruin lives and we will always act on intelligence to target gangs who bring drugs into our communities.
“There are often issues around trafficking and modern day slavery connected to these incidents and we will continue to do everything we can to dismantle these gangs and help potential victims.”
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