POLICE have seizied cannabis with an estimated street value of £72,000 in a raid on a South Harrow house this week.

Officers launched the raid after the landlord of the house, in Somervell Road, had called to tip them off about his tenants' suspicious behaviour. Using a warrant, police forced entry and inside discovered a fully operational cannabis factory.

Three out of the four bedrooms were filled with 300 separate cannabis plants. Along with the plants, the team seized six black plastic bin liners that were full of harvested leaves, and being prepared for onward distribution.

The factory is believed to have been set up by four south-east Asians, who were not in the house at the time. No arrests have yet been made but police have collected intelligence and expect arrests to follow in the near future.

A police source described the drugs haul as high quality cannabis, known by the more common name of "skunk". With a higher street value than weaker versions of the drug, the amount confiscated has an estimated street value of £72,000.

PC Mick Darvell, who led the operation, said: "This was an excellent drugs haul and means that a significant amount of cannabis has been removed from circulation. This incident highlights how this type of crime can be committed right under the noses of law-abiding citizens. We would urge anyone with information about any aspect of illegal drugs to contact the crime desk on 020 8733 3441 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."