A shocking video shared by police showed the inside of a former chicken farm turned into a cannabis factory holding £500,000 worth of the drug, near a small UK village
Wiltshire: Extensive cannabis grow discovered in disused farm building
Police have revealed the inside of a massive cannabis factory uncovered in an abandoned chicken unit, where criminals grew £500,000 worth of drugs.
More than 1,500 plants were found in the remote former agricultural site, near the village of Burbage, in Wiltshire. Officers said the farm was one of the largest ever uncovered in the area, with detectives estimating the site drew around £1.5 million worth of electricity from the national grid to power the “highly sophisticated” illegal operation.
A member of the public spotted the 60 m × 12 m cannabis farm on Friday, July 17, and engineers have been working to make the dangerous electricity supply safe.
Police said they found around 1,500 cannabis plants (Image: Wiltshire Police)
A video released by Wiltshire Police shows the extent of the huge drug factory, which includes a “living quarters” alongside roughly 1,300 plants, many of which were ready for cultivation and street sale.
Inside the barn the living area contained bedding, a toilet and even a kitchen equipped with a stove, sink and washing machine.
The ‘living quarters’ inside the cannabis factory (Image: Wiltshire Police)
Detective Sergeant Joe Shanklin, who took part in the raid, said: “We’ve come across these sorts of factories before, but the scale of this one is pretty big. It’s been here for some time; it’s a remote location and removing the equipment safely, working with the utilities companies, will take some time.”
Outside the chicken farm turned cannabis farm (Image: Wiltshire Police)
Wiltshire Police said officers have been logging and removing both the equipment and the drug plants. The cannabis will be moved to a secure location and destroyed. No arrests have been made yet, but an investigation is underway.
Detective Sergeant Shanklin added: “The sophisticated set‑up included electricity illegally drawn directly from the national grid to power hundreds of grow lamps as well as a full irrigation system. We have also found signs of a number of people who had been living on site, with bedrooms and cooking facilities within the barn. The scale of this operation is significant and appears to have been in place for a substantial period of time.”
Wiltshire Police urged the public to remain vigilant: “If you think a property near you might be used for illegal drug activity, please report it to us on 101 or through our website. Information can also be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
For the full story, see the original report: Here
