Essex Police Southend neighbourhood team seized and destroyed 165 mature cannabis plants following a raid on a property in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, on February 17, 2026. Officers discovered the large indoor growing operation inside a dilapidated flat on Hamlet Court Road.
Specialist officers forced their way into the building and broke through several locked doors to find the plants. They discovered that multiple rooms in the run-down flat had been specifically converted for drug cultivation.
Police reported that the property was in a dangerous condition because the electrical system had been bypassed. This was done to provide power for high-intensity lights, which created a serious fire hazard for people living in nearby homes.
The operation is part of ongoing work to tackle drug production and related disorder in the Westcliff area. By removing these plants, authorities hope to disrupt the local drug supply and make the community safer for residents.
Local people are being encouraged to look out for signs of drug cultivation, such as unusual smells, windows that are always covered, or people visiting a property at odd hours. Residents can report suspicious activity to help officers target further crimes in the area.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
