Pubdate: Sun, 26 Oct 2008
Source: Argus, The (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Newsquest Media Group
Contact:  http://www.theargus.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2706
Author: Nigel Freedman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

FIVE CHARGED FOLLOWING CANNABIS CAFE RAID

Five people have been charged following a raid on a notorious cannabis cafe.

The cafe in Freshbrook Road, Lancing, remains closed and under police guard.

Owner Mike Allday, 43, confirmed that he and four others have been 
charged with conspiracy to supply the Class C drug.

They have been bailed to appear at Worthing Magistrates Court on November 5.

The cafe has been closed since police raided it and addresses in 
Lancing and Worthing on Wednesday.

A 39-year-old woman from Brighton and three men aged 19, 32, and 39 
were also arrested.

Their names had not been released by Sussex Police last night and Mr 
Allday did not want to reveal their identities.

Police used an angle grinder to cut their way into the heavily 
fortified cafe removing a thick steel door to get inside.

The cafe opened in January 2007 following the closure of a number of 
similar venues in Worthing and has temporarily been shut down on 
previous occasions.

Gates leading to the cafe in Freshbrook Road have been shut and 
bolted and the entrance is boarded up.

However, police said on Friday that a closure order had not been 
served on the building and there was nothing to prevent it being re-opened.

A spokesman for Sussex Police told The Argus on Friday: "It has just 
been very securely sealed."

Chief Inspector James Asser, district commander for Adur, was working 
but did not return calls from The Argus.

Friends of those arrested condemned the charges and said the latest 
of seven raids had resulted in no cannabis being seized.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom