Dopey suspect showed police cannabis video while trying to use translation app
Northumbria Police said the man made the mistake after they stopped a car near Sunderland, which led them to find a farm with 600 plants growing.
A suspected drug dealer who tried to use Google Translate when he was stopped by police mistakenly showed officers a video of a large cannabis farm, officers have said.
Police stopped a grey Mercedes in Rainton Bridge, near Sunderland, on Wednesday and officers became suspicious when they detected a strong smell of cannabis.
Northumbria Police said one of the two occupants of the car, whose first language was not English, then opened his phone to use Google Translate to help explain himself.
“But, much to his horror, a video appeared on his screen which showed a significant cannabis farm in operation,” the force said.
Police arrested the pair and then searched a property in the village of Easington Lane, where they found a cannabis farm with 600 plants growing on three floors.
Sergeant Steve Passey, of Northumbria Police, said: “It’s safe to say the suspect was a little shocked and tried to quickly lock his phone in the hope that nobody had seen.
“Inside, a sophisticated cannabis operation was found and we have now been able to dismantle that and ensure those drugs do not make their way on to our streets.”
The two men – aged 22 and 38 – were arrested on suspicion of producing of a Class B drug and have been released on police bail.
