A major cannabis factory was busted open in Hitchin yesterday as London officers targeting organised crime executed a warrant in the town.

Armed officers from the Met’s London Crime Squad raided a commercial premises in Hitchin’s Bury Mead Road industrial area at about 6am yesterday, with support from a Herts police helicopter and officers.

Eight warrants were executed in the capital as part of the same swoop, with a second cannabis factory found there. About £4,000 in cash was seized.

The Comet was asked to refrain from publicising the raids in the immediate aftermath, but a Met Police spokeswoman said today: “As part of a Metropolitan Police London Crime Squad operation to tackle drug dealing by organised criminal gangs, eight search warrants were executed at various residential premises in London and one in Hertfordshire at a commercial premises in Hitchin.

“Officers discovered a large cannabis factory at the Hitchin premises, and a further cannabis factory at one of the addresses in London. They also seized £4,000 in cash.

“Eight people – seven men and one woman, aged between 26 and 57 – have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, and currently remain in police custody at a central London police station.”