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FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2009 www.handsworthheadlines.net 42p FREE £5 CLASSICAL LEGENDS CD GIVEAWAY: PAGE 36 £250,000 raid that REDUNDANCY STRIKES ONCE HANDSWORTH HEAD LINES FULL STORY PAGE 3 H undreds of plants worth thousands of pounds were seized from illegal growers by police who raided a prohibited drug production factory on top of a Birmingham pub. Seven people whose names can’t be mentioned for legal reasons were arrested after officers invaded a flat above the Newtown row pub in Mel- bourne Avenue, Newtown, which contained around 350 plants growing in two tiny attic rooms yesterday. Police believed that the plants were matured and would have been harvest- ed and ready to sell on the streets in less than two weeks. Newtown row pub owner “George Raymond” (28), who rents the pub to citizens, said the upstairs is a separate compartment from the pub and was stunned by the dis- covery. He claims to have no participation at all with the growing of the illegal plants. “I don’t condemn drugs that are illegal because I abide by the law, that’s just what type of person I am and how I was bought up. I don’t tol- erate drugs in the bar and is frustrating because I have nothing to do with this” Cannabis also known as marijuana was banned from Britain during the late pe- riod of the 1930’s. Some of the short-term physical ef- fects of cannabis use include increased heart rate, dry mouth, reddening of the eyes (congestion of the blood ves- sels), a reduction in intra-oc- ular pressure Officers from thorn hill road police sta- tion and Newtown row were ready for action as the anti- drug team swooped into ac- tion at about 7am who were given a tip-off from reliable EXCLUSIVE By Jordan Francis ROCKED the headlines 350+ new vacancies inside your 12-page pull-out Jobs On guard: An officer stands on duty at the scene where the cannabis plants were found, severn people were held in custody as they were suspected for the growth of the plants AGAIN! TURN TO PAGE 24
