POLICE stumbled across a drugs haul worth more than £140,000 after answering a routine call to a disturbance at a farm yesterday.
Bailiffs trying to enter the remote farmhouse in Greencroft, near Stanley, County Durham, called the police.
Officers found 142 mature cannabis plants on the property, with a street value of £1,000 each, and equipment.
Detective Sergeant Paul D'eath, of Derwentside CID, said: "We had a little bit of luck, but it is quite a haul.
"We were called to assist after an alleged altercation between the bailiffs and the householder. During that, we recovered the plants.
"It was quite a sophisticated set-up and it is a major haul, both financially and the amount of cannabis involved.
"We have taken a potentially large amount of drugs off the street market."
A 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill and cultivating cannabis, and a 33-year-old woman on suspicion of cultivating cannabis. Both were released on police bail last night pending further inquiries.
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