12 held after £1.5m cannabis haul

All of the suspects, plus another from eastern Europe, are in their late teens or early 20s.

More than 30 detectives, backed by uniformed colleagues, swooped on a converted barn and three houses in towns and villages across County Durham as part of a pre-planned operation.

They recovered around 1,000 cannabis plants from a converted barn in Lanchester and up to 800 more from a three-storey house in Sacriston and a terraced house in Bowburn.

Another semi-detached house was also raided in the Ushaw Moor area and all four properties were sealed off in the wake of Thursday night's raids.

Cash and vehicles were also seized in the raids.

The 12 men were all arrested on suspicion of cultivating or possessing cannabis and are being questioned by detectives at police stations across the Durham police force area.

A force spokesman said: "Cannabis plants with a street value estimated to be in excess of £1.5 million were seized by police in a series of late night raids.

"A dozen men, in their late teens and early 20s, were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the cultivation, possession or supply of cannabis.

"The men, one from eastern Europe and the remainder, believed to be from Vietnam or of East Asian origin were taken to police stations where they are being held for questioning."