Police have discovered a massive cannabis farm in an underground nuclear bunker.
Six people have been arrested after police carried out a midnight raid on RGHQ Chilmark, which was constructed in the 1980s in Wiltshire and was designed to protect government officials in case of a nuclear attack, but is no longer owned by the Ministry of Defence.
Police were aware that the bunker was ‘almost completely impenetrable’, so waited for three people to leave. The three men, along with two more men and one 15-year-old boy who were inside, were all detained.
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The three men found inside the bunker were arrested on suspicion of cannabis production and the men outside were all arrested on suspicion of cannabis production and human trafficking.
Inside police found several thousand cannabis plants, thought to be worth over £1million.
Detective Inspector Paul Franklin said: “There are approximately 20 rooms in the building, split over two floors, each 200ft long and 70ft wide.
“Almost every single room had been converted for the wholesale production of cannabis plants, and there was a large amount of evidence of previous crops. This was an enormous set-up.”
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The detective continued: “At this early stage of the investigation it is almost impossible to work out how many plants are inside, but we are talking thousands rather than hundreds, and we would estimate the value of the crop at over £1 million.
“I am convinced it is one of the largest crops ever discovered in Wiltshire. The actions of officers last night took a large amount of planning and teamwork, and I am very pleased that it has been so successful.
“This is the largest and most sophisticated cannabis factory I’ve ever experienced and I am delighted that we have been able to take such a large amount of illicit drugs off the streets of Wiltshire before they are able to reach vulnerable people within our communities.”
It’s not the only thing with a huge value to be seized by police recently either.
Earlier today it was revealed that London police have found almost £1million in suitcase in the back of a black cab.
The revelation was made with the release of information regarding retrieved money and assets in 2015/16.
Scotland Yard said: “The cash was found when officers stopped a black cab in east London and found a large holdall in the passenger compartment which contained the cash.”
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Scotland Yard continued: “The cash was subsequently forfeited under the Proceeds of Crime Act in early 2016.”
Overall, they seized over £73 million last year under the Act, which came into action in 2002.
The biggest ever single confiscation was a £6 million find in 2015 connected to the supply of chip and pin machines to central London brothels.
“The main perpetrator created a number of sham companies purporting to offer events and function facilities to corporate clients,” the Met Police said.
