A cannabis farm worth £1 million has been discovered in Macclesfield town centre.
The drugs were found over two floors above a disused shop unit on Chestergate shopping street.
Officers say the haul could number more than 900 plants and that the drugs had a street value of up to £1 million.
Police raided the building on Tuesday following a tip off from a member of the public.
Crime scene investigators and police officers from Macclesfield were at the property for four days taking samples and other evidence before dismantling and bringing out the plants.
Sgt Adam Alexander, who was at the scene, said: “We were alerted by a member of the public who suspected there may be cannabis being grown in the shop.
“On Tuesday, a team of firefighters went into the property to check it was safe. It’s surprising to have found the farm here right in the middle of Chestergate, given how many people use the car park at the back of the shop and how many people walk past the shop on a daily basis. This warrant is a result of a member of the public contacting us.
“As we have said before we want people to get in touch with us if they suspect something is happening in their area.”
The find comes after a crackdown on drugs around Macclesfield – called Operation Dresden – was launched in January. The operation has resulted in a number of arrests and seizures being made by police.
Inspector Steve Griffiths, head of Macclesfield police, said: “We are very much focussing on supply of class A drugs like heroin and cocaine in Operation Dresden, but we are just as committed to crackdown on class B drugs.
“It is a very serious offence.”
Wasim Mahmood, 22, of Tinshill Close in Belle Vue Manchester, Hung Tran, 23, of no fixed abode, and Duc Quang Ta, 24, of no fixed abode, have appeared at Macclesfield Magistrates court accused of producing a class B drug and abstracting electricity. They were all remanded in custody and are due to appear at Chester Crown Court.
