Wiltshire Police have dismantled what investigators believe to be one of the county’s largest-ever cannabis factories after finding about 1,500 cultivated plants inside a converted poultry unit near Burbage.
What officers found
Detectives say the single-storey agricultural building, roughly 60m x 12m, had been extensively altered into a series of internal rooms to accommodate plants at differing stages of growth, from seedlings to mature bushes. The haul is estimated to have a street value of £500,000.
- Approximately 1,500 cannabis plants recovered
- Estimated street value: £500,000
- Suspected illegal electricity draw from the National Grid valued at about £1.5m
- Building type: disused poultry unit near Burbage
Police response and safety concerns
Officers said engineers had to disconnect a hazardous electricity supply before specialist search teams logged and removed the plants and equipment. The operation required officers to work in protective gear and in high temperatures under temporary lighting because of the environmental conditions inside the unit.
"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,"
The police added they found signs that several people had been living at the site, with bedrooms and cooking facilities set up within the barn. The plants and machinery seized will be taken to a secure facility for safe destruction.
Local impact and next steps
There were no arrests at the scene and enquiries are ongoing. Detectives continue to investigate who ran the operation and whether there are links to other sites. Police have appealed to the public to report suspicious activity in or around agricultural buildings.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Cannabis plants | ~1,500 |
| Estimated street value | £500,000 |
| Estimated illegal electricity drawn | £1.5m |
| Building dimensions (reported) | 60m x 12m |
Police have reminded residents that concerns about possible drug activity can be reported via the non-emergency 101 number or through the force’s website; information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers. The discovery follows a public report that led officers to the unit on Friday, underlining the role members of the community play in flagging illegal activity.
Further updates will be issued as enquiries progress.
