POLICE acting on a tip off netted a haul of cannabis worth an estimated £165,000 during a raid on a suspected dope factory.

Information provided to Crimestoppers from an eagle-eyed member of the public led to the discovery of the large scale cannabis cultivation in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, on Monday.

Cops discovered more than 500 plants in a flat in the town's Bruce Avenue.

A 38-year-old South East Asian man has been arrested in connection with the incident. A full report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

The man was expected to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court today.

The raid is the latest in a series of busts in the west of Scotland which has netted close to a £1million in recent weeks.

Detective Sergeant Joe McLaughlin said: "Thanks to a tip off made to Crimestoppers, we have been able to disrupt and dismantle another large scale cannabis cultivation.

"The discovery of this cultivation proves that by working together we can be successful in tackling this issue and making a major impact on the criminal fraternities setting up these sites.

"It's encouraging that local people know what to look out for and are proactive in reporting their suspicions.

"It may be that there are other cultivations in the surrounding area and I would urge people to be aware of the signs and report any suspicious activity."

Operation League is a joint Task Force which was launched in September this year.

It involves all Scottish police forces, the SCDEA, SOCA, UK Border Agency and other key partners.

The operation aims to crackdown on serious organised crime groups who are involved in large scale cannabis cultivations which are often linked to human trafficking, serious violence and money laundering.

Police are asking the public to be vigilant and look out for some tell-tale signs which can indicate the location of a cannabis factory in their area.