The discovery of a cannabis plants worth £40k at a former pub ravaged by fire has come as ‘no surprise’ to traders who have smelt the drug for months.
Police found 40 cannabis plants as well as hydroponics equipment at the former Cat and Fiddle pub on Magdalen Street in Norwich.
Police on scene after cannabis was discovered following fire at former city pub (Image: Newsquest) Officers and crime scene investigators were able to get into the building after fire crews extinguished a fire which broke out at the building.
Fire crews tackling the blaze at the former city pub (Image: Newsquest) Plumes of black smoke could be seen pouring into the sky as firefighters battled to extinguish the flames following reports of a fire at about 2.45pm on Thursday (June 5).
Police are continuing to investigate the discovery of the drugs although no arrests have yet been made.
But the drugs discovery has not come as a shock to traders working in the area.
Kelvin Mitchell (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Kelvin Mitchell, 55, who runs Secondhand Land on Magdalen Street said there had been a smell of cannabis in the area prior to the fire breaking out.
Secondhand Land (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) He said: “It’s no surprise really.
“We could smell it but didn’t know where it was coming from.”
Those views have been echoed by a shopkeeper at nearby business, City Convenience Store.
City Convenience Store (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) He wanted to remain anonymous but said they had been able to smell cannabis in the area “for a long time”.
He said that he and others working and visiting the area had been aware of the smell of the class B drug for “maybe a year” although did not know where it had been coming from.
“People have said they could smell it – it’s no surprise.”
Another Magdalen Street trader, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the discovery of cannabis at the fire-hit building was “not surprising” in the “current climate”.
Police cordon in place at Magdalen Street in Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) But he did say it was shocking “how fierce” the fire was.
“It was so fierce,” he said.
The store-holder also said the fire – which initially led to the road being closed – has caused yet more problems for those trying to earn a living there.
Although Magdalen Street has reopened a cordon remains in place in the area which has recently seen the closure of Anglia Square.
He said it has all been “terribly inconvenient” and yet “another nail in the coffin” for the area.
He said: “When the buses don’t come down here there’s no people.
“The footfall has dropped down anyway.”
No one was injured in the fire.
Enquiries are ongoing.
Anyone with information or anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity around the property, is encouraged to contact Norfolk Police via 101.
They should quote crime reference: NC-05062025-258.
