Large cannabis farm discovered in disused poultry unit near Burbage
It is thought to be one of the largest ever uncovered in Wiltshire
A large cannabis farm has been uncovered at a disused poultry unit near Burbage.
Police say it is thought to be one of the largest ever discovered in Wiltshire with more than 1,500 cultivated plants found with an estimated street value of £500,000.
Detectives estimate that approximately £1.5million worth of electricity was drawn from the national grid to power the farm.
Detective Sergeant Joe Shanklin, part of the search team, explained that the 60m x 12m single storey structure had been expertly modified into a series of internal rooms housing cannabis plants in varying stages of maturity, from seedlings to established bushes.
He 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 say the factory was discovered by a member of the public on Friday (17 July) and engineers have disconnected the hazardous electricity supply and specialist police search officers have been working methodically to log and remove the plants and equipment.
The force added that the recovered cannabis plants will be taken to a facility where they can be safely destroyed.
No arrests have been made but enquiries remain ongoing.