POLICE investigating what they thought was a suspected burglary in Maindee instead uncovered a drugs den.

Neighbours called police to a house just off Marlborough Road at artound 11pm on Monday night after reporting two man dressed in black trying to break-into the house.

The two-storey property, which is reached from Marlborough Road along a driveway, was built last year and is still under construction.

It is understood that the owner has a number of properties in the area and was renting out the house next door as flats.

One neighbour who alerted police said he was in an upstairs room of his house when he heard banging.

He went to the window and saw two men dressed in black clothing.

“They had a torch and what looked like a sledge hammer and were bashing the door,” he said.

“I called the police as I thought it was a burglary."

Police were last night unable to confirm a street value of the plants but it is believed to be tens of thousands of pounds.

The cannabis farmers had set up ventilation and watering systems throughout the two open plan floors.

Each plant was in a pot filled with three inches of water and maintained by lighting and heat lamps attached to the rafters.

Every wall was insulated and all the windows covered with black sheeting.

Police removed the plants of various maturity from the site yesterday afternoon. The most mature plants were three and a half feet tall.

PC Karl Neilsen, of Gwent Police said no one was in the property when officers arrived.

“The whole floor space of the property was covered with plants,” he said.

He said nine officers had been working at the scene to collect the equipment and plants.

“The plants will be destroyed once samples have been taken,” said PC Neilsen.

He confirmed that the landlord has been informed and is not involved in the investigation.