THE WAR on drugs is being won by Swindon Police after a number of successful raids.

It comes after one of the biggest cannabis factories was discovered in the town centre by officers at the former West Bromwich Bank on the junction of Morley Street and Commercial Road on Tuesday.

The £500,000 set up was professional and highly organised, according to the police central sector Sergeant Kate Stalder.

Two men were arrested – a 20 and 40-year-old from Vietnam – at the scene in connection with cultivating the 2,000 plant crop at various stages of growth.

The pair appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court and spoke via an interpreter yesterday.

Tuan Le and Quoc Nguyen were remanded in custody.

They will be back in front of magistrates on Wednesday, March 17. The case will then be committed to Swindon Crown Court on Wednesday, April 21.

Now the head of the dedicated drugs squad Sergeant Scott Hargreave, based at Gablecross Police Station, said his team was winning the war on drugs in Swindon.

“In the 10 months we have been up and running as a drugs team we have arrested in excess of 60 people,” he said. “Out of these 46 have been charged with intent to supply. We have executed 46 warrants and 80 percent have been positive searches, whereby drugs have been found.

“We have recovered two kilos of class-A drugs and 50 kilos of amphetamines.

“We have also targeted gangs bringing the drugs into Swindon from London and Birmingham.”

He added: “Information from the community is key in the crackdown on drugs.”

In October last year a cannabis factory run from a garden shed was closed down after an early morning raid in Stratton.

In 2008 alone Swindon Police closed down more than 20 cannabis factories.

They seized millions of pounds of drugs before they were sold on the town’s streets.

Any information on illegal drug activity can be passed onto Sgt Hargreave by calling 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, where tips can be left anonymously, on 0800 555 111.