Police taped off a Newport street and busted a cannabis factory after a report of men "acting suspiciously". The Commercial Street raid is the latest in a series of cannabis busts in Newport city-centre.

A spokesman for Gwent Police said it received a report of "suspicious activity" in Commercial Street at around 9.55pm on Sunday. Officers attended and arrested three Newport men — aged 25, 26 and 33 — on suspicion of producing a Class B drug. All three remain in custody for questioning. And Friars Street — a side-street off Commercial Street — has been cordoned off as a drug farm is searched.

Superintendent Jason White said: “Our officers responded to a call about men acting suspiciously in Commercial Street which has led to the arrest of three men on suspicious of drug production offences. We have then carried out a proactive search of the address and found a number of cannabis plants at the location, all of which have been seized by officers. Several scenes were set up in Newport to assist our enquiries so it is possible that you may see officers around the city as this work continues."

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It comes after the force found more than 1,200 cannabis plants in a former shop on Commercial Street on September 27, followed by more than 3,000 in an ex-department store in the same street on October 10. Yet another cannabis factory was raided in Commercial Street on November 2.

Superintendent White added: “We’re keen to hear from anyone with information, or CCTV or dashcam footage, that could assist our enquiries. You can call us on 101 or send us a direct message on social media, quoting log reference 2300377661, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”