UPDATE: Together with our colleagues at Stoke-on-Trent City Council and West Midlands Police cannabis disposal team we have now emptied the property in Burslem.
Approximately 1,700 cannabis plants have been seized from the void premises. The plants were spread across eight rooms. The approximate street value is thought to be in the region of £255,000.
Police have now charged Lee Tuong, aged 30, of no fixed address with production of cannabis and he will appear before magistrates in Newcastle tomorrow, Friday.
The 58-year-old man arrested has now been bailed, pending further inquiries, to a later date.
The men were spotted acting suspiciously at the location on CCTV in the early hours of yesterday morning and operators from Stoke-on-Trent City Council called police officers in.
Due to the safety of the building the clear up process was delayed until it was deemed safe for officers to enter the property earlier today.
Over 100 large bags of compost were also seized from the property and these will now be given to local community groups to assist with gardening work.
Cobridge Community Group has already collected a number of bags and anyone else interested is asked to contact Sgt Mark Churton at Burslem police station on 101.
We would like to thank members of the public for their patience and understanding whilst we have been at the site over the last few days.
*Sgt Churton is pictured removing some of the cannabis plants.
