Three men from London have been charged after around 1,700 cannabis plants were discovered growing in a disused building in Colchester.
Officers from Essex Police attended the building in Spring Lane at 9am on Monday after receiving reports of suspicious activity in the area.
They found three men inside who have since been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis.
Work remains ongoing to dismantle the equipment and remove the plants from the building.
Police have since charged three men from London with the production of cannabis - Erdal Ozmen, 40, of Broadway Mews in Clapton Common, Larry Stange, 34, of Shepherd’s Bush Road in Hammersmith and Ali Acer, 36, of Bodney Road in Clapton.
All three men will appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court today (Wednesday, January 6).
Anyone with information about this cannabis factory is asked to contact Essex Police quoting incident 133 of Monday, January 4.
You can submit a report online here or use the 'Live Chat' button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm. Alternatively, you can call 101.
Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on its website.
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