Ankershagen (dpa/mv) - After digging up a large hemp plantation near Ankershagen (Mecklenburg Lake District), the 59-year-old operator was taken into custody. As a police spokeswoman said on Monday, the responsible district court has now issued arrest warrants on suspicion of illegal drug cultivation and trafficking on a large scale and violations of the weapons law. A few days ago, 1,700 marijuana plants, including professional technology and three live firearms, were found on the suspect's remote property in the Bornhof district. The man was arrested.
The search with a special task force in Bornhof took place in connection with drug investigations in North Rhine-Westphalia, where the trail was found. At the same time, another residence of the man, who is said to be a Swiss citizen, was searched in West Mecklenburg. According to initial investigations, cannabis was produced in Bornhof for the drug trade in other metropolitan areas at home and abroad.
"According to our calculations, a harvest of these plants yielded around 30 kilograms of cannabis," said the police spokeswoman. This has a value of around 300,000 euros on the black market. In addition to the drugs and firearms, the suspect must also expect investigations into violations of the Animal Welfare Act. 47 dogs of different breeds were confiscated from the farm. There is a suspicion of illegal dog breeding, which the district's veterinary office is investigating.
