A 36-YEAR-OLD man has been charged after a police drugs raid uncovered a cannabis farm on five floors of a disused town centre shop.

A warrant was executed around 8.30am under the Misuse of Drugs Act at the former TUI premises next to WH Smith on Chepstow High Street on Monday (November 4).

Police found cannabis being grown on five floors in commercial premises in Chepstow High Street
Police found cannabis being grown on five floors in commercial premises in Chepstow High Street (Gwent Police)

Gwent Police arrested a man who has now been charged to appear before Newport magistrates with being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug of class B – cannabis, and production of a controlled drug of class B – cannabis.

They have also charged him with abstracting/using electricity without authority.

A video still of the raid in the centre of Chepstow shows plugs in power sockets providing lighting for the cannabis farm
A video still of the raid in the centre of Chepstow shows plugs in power sockets providing lighting (Gwent Police)

PC Hywel Evans, the officer in the case, said after the raid: "This cannabis cultivation in Chepstow was discovered following reports of suspicious activity inside the building.

"While producing cannabis may not seem like a serious offence, it can often be linked to sophisticated organised crime groups.

“Every cannabis factory we dismantle helps disrupt these operations, the plants are stopped from being sold into our communities and the profits are prevented from going on to fund other crime.

“The public play an important role in providing information and we encourage anyone with concerns about illegal drugs in their area to get in touch so that we can take action."

If you have any information or CCTV footage that could assist our investigation, contact us via the website, call 101, or direct message us on our Facebook or X pages, quoting log reference 2400363128.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, with information.