Former Devon NFU chairman arrested after cannabis farm raid

Devon’s former county chairman of the National Farmer’s Union is thought to have been arrested and questioned by Police following a cannabis raid on a farm near Chagford.

John Shears, 69, also an unelected member of several Dartmoor National Park Authority committees is thought to be one of four men arrested and questioned following the police raid on May 7.

A police search of barns and outbuildings near Chagford uncovered 189 cannabis plants thought to be worth around £75,000.

A 25-year-old man from Kingsteignton, a 49-year-old man from the Chagford area and a 34-year-old man from Cullompton were also arrested and questioned after the raid.

The men were later released on police bail pending further inquiries and will be questioned again in August.

Dartmoor National Park Authority has confirmed it was reviewing Mr Shear's status as an unelected member while the police investigation continued.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said: "A warrant was executed at a rural property in Chagford around 9.20am on May 7.

"Officers seized more than 100 suspected cannabis plants and suspected drugs equipment.

"Four men arrested on suspicion of production of Class B drugs. Aged 41, 34, 69 and 25 and from Chagford. All four taken into custody at Launceston and bailed until August 7."

Mr Shears is also a councillor on Chagford parish council.