Six men have been charged after a cannabis factory containing 400 to 600 plants was located in Ipswich town centre. 

Police attended a property in Arcade Street at about 12pm on Friday after receiving information from the public.

Ipswich Star: Hundreds of plants were found insideHundreds of plants were found inside (Image: Suffolk police)

A police spokesman said between 400 and 600 plants were discovered inside.

Officers arrested six men on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis and were taken to custody for questioning.

Ipswich Star: A police presence was maintained outside the propertyA police presence was maintained outside the property (Image: Newsquest)

Sander Paloka, 36, Kristian Kaza, 28, Kristian Lleshi, 28, Florent Tukaj, 25, Dorjan Gjorka, 28, Anxhelo Preci, 28, have been charged with contravention of section 4(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 between 1 October 2023 and 12 January 2024.

All six men, of no fixed abode but from the Ipswich area, will appear before Suffolk Magistrates' Court in Ipswich on Monday.

Inspector Dan Fiske, from Ipswich police, said: “This information from the public enabled us to develop the intelligence and obtain the warrant which ultimately produced this find.

"This sort of information is the lifeblood of our work and is invaluable in helping us build a picture of criminal activity. We’re always very grateful for the support from the community.

"The location of the cannabis factory was a busy location in the town centre and may have caused some disruption.

"I’d like to thank the public for their patience while we conducted necessary initial enquiries, in particular, those local businesses who facilitated us access to their properties. The cordon that was in place on the property has now been removed.“