A DRUGS gang has been smashed after police raided six cannabis factories, seizing hundreds of plants and arresting 14 people. Seven of the early morning raids took place across Cambridgeshire on Wednesday (May 6) at 7.25am. In a coordinated operation, f

A DRUGS gang has been smashed after police raided six cannabis factories, seizing hundreds of plants and arresting 14 people.

Seven of the early morning raids took place across Cambridgeshire on Wednesday (May 6) at 7.25am.

In a co-ordinated operation, five homes were raided at the same time including a property in High Street, Brampton, and Pasture Close, Warboys.

Two were also raided in Milton Road, Cambridge, and one in Mowbray Road, Cambridge.

All these properties were found to be cannabis factories, and 11 people, dubbed as 'gardeners' in charge of tending to the cannabis plants, were arrested.

Two warrants were also served at properties in St Ives, one in Molewood Close and another in Robbs Walk. Two arrests were made at these properties, and police believe these people were responsible for the funding and management of the factories. Thousands of pounds of cash, an air gun and ammunition were also found at the properties.

On Tuesday (May 5) officers executed a warrant at Peveral Road, Cambridge, and discovered a cannabis factory. One man was arrested and charged.

The Hunts Post was with police during the raid in Brampton, where in excess of 400 skunk plants (a stronger form of cannabis) were found. All but two rooms of this four-bedroom property were used to grow the plants. Plants were found in the kitchen, loft and three bedrooms.

One woman - suspected of being the cannabis 'gardener' - was arrested and the plants were removed from the property.

The growers had tapped into the mains electricity supply to power the cannabis factory. There were believed to be more than 40 600Watt lamps being used at the property, using an estimated 320kW of electricity a day.

Brampton parish councillor Mike Shellens, who lives a few doors away from the raided property, said: "We are just generally shocked - I mean, this is Brampton. I heard bangs this morning and didn't think anything of it until I got up and saw a police van outside."

He added: "If these cannabis factories can be found in Brampton, then they can be found anywhere."

Some of the plants were a few months away from being ready to harvest, and in each room the plants were at a different stage of development.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Mead, who ran the operation, said: "We carried out a series of raids across Cambridgeshire this morning and smashed a drugs gang.

"This is part of work to target the production and supply of class B drugs in the county.

"I urge people to remain alert to the activities in their neighbourhoods and report anything suspicious to police."

The arrests are as follows:

* Two15-year-old boys from Cambridge have been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and are currently in custody at Parkside Police Station.

* A 32-year-old woman from Cambridge has been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and is currently in custody at Huntingdon Police Station.

* A 25-year-old man from Warboys has been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and is currently in custody at Huntingdon Police Station.

* A 42-year-old man from Cambridge has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class B drugs and is currently in custody at St Neots Police Station.

* A 45-year-old man from St Ives has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class B drugs and is currently in custody at St Neots Police Station.

* A 48-year-old woman from Brampton has been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and is currently in custody at Huntingdon Police Station.

* A 38-year-old man from St Ives has been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences and is currently in custody at Parkside Police Station.

* A 23-year-old woman from Cambridge has been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and is currently in custody at Parkside Police Station.

* A 25-year-old man from Cambridge has been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and is currently in custody at Parkside Police Station.

* A 26-year-old man, 19-year-old man and 22-year-old man, all from Cambridge, have been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and are in custody at Parkside Police Station.

INFORMATION: Anyone with information should contact police on 0845 4564564 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.