Published Wednesday, 23 September 2009
A substantial quantity of cannabis plants has been seized from the premises in Comber and Downpatrick on Wednesday morning.
Two men have been arrested, one in Comber and one in Downpatrick.
The police operation follows a search of a house on the Upper Newtownards Road in east Belfast on Tuesday night when cannabis plants were uncovered. Detectives believe there are links between the properties.
The officer in charge of the operation, Detective Inspector Peter Moore, said: "This is a major success for police against organised crime. We have managed to remove hundreds of cannabis plants from these two houses in Comber and Downpatrick. This will disrupt the supply of this illegal drug and reduce its capacity to inflict harm and misery on individuals and communities.
"The houses in Comber and Downpatrick were rented and cash was paid up front by the tenants. We would again ask people in the private rental sector, which is most at risk, to work with us and protect themselves and their communities. They should be suspicious of anyone paying cash for rental."
Last year police produced a leaflet giving advice to landlords on what to look for and how to respond.