Man in court after £1m cannabis farm found in former County Durham steakhouse
by Daniel Hall · ChronicleLiveA man has appeared in court today after more than £1 million worth of illegal drugs were seized by police following a raid at a former restaurant in County Durham.
Officers from the Seaham Neighbourhood Police Team carried out a raid at what was previously The Ranch restaurant, in Stockton Road, on Monday morning. They discovered more than 1,600 cannabis plants, and a man hiding in the loft.
Anastasios Loizos, of no fixed abode, 37, was taken into custody and charged with producing cannabis. He appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court today, where he did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Durham Crown Court on January 14 next year.
Trainee Detective Constable Georgia Hansen of Peterlee CID said: "We know drugs ruin lives and have a profound effect on our communities, which is why both neighbourhood officers and detectives worked together into the night to secure a charge in this case and put the suspect before the court. The seized drugs will now be destroyed and we would urge anyone with concerns around drug cultivation in their community to report it."
Anyone who has any information is urged to contact Durham Constabulary on 101 or information can be passed on to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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