Receipt left in car led to detectives' discovery of 200 cannabis plants in Brighton

According to Sussex Police, officers responded to an ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) hit for a Toyota, believed to be involved in the supply of drugs, in the city on Tuesday afternoon (December 22).

The car was pursued a short distance to Eastern Road, where it stopped and two occupants were detained, police said.

A spokesperson added: "A search of the vehicle revealed an extendable baton and a sharpened screwdriver, which were seized.

"Two men were arrested and taken into custody.

"While in custody, a receipt for items relating to cannabis cultivation were found in the wallet of one of the suspects. Due to this, a Section 18 search of an address in Preston Street, Brighton, was carried out."

Police said this led to the discovery of 'approximately 200 cannabis plants' of 'various stages of growth' at the property, which were seized and destroyed.

The spokesperson added: "A 22-year-old man, of no fixed address, was arrested on suspicion of illegal entry into the UK, producing a Class B drug (cannabis), and abstracting electricity without authority.

"A 31-year-old man from Hove was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in public, abstracting electricity without authority, possessing criminal property, and producing a Class B drug (cannabis)."

Both men were released on conditional bail until January 19, pending further enquiries.

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