To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Cops Find One Of The UK's Biggest Cannabis Farms In Underground Tunnels

Cops Find One Of The UK's Biggest Cannabis Farms In Underground Tunnels

Two men have since been arrested in connection with the discovery

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Cops have found one of Britain's biggest ever cannabis farms inside a maze of underground tunnels.

The massive drug den is so big that police almost 24-hours after making the discovery they still wasn't sure they had got all of the drugs out and were unsure of how big the factory was.

Detectives applied for a warrant for Bethel Quarry in Bradford on Avon, which had previously been used to grow mushrooms that for Heinz soup. Once inside they found a huge haul of drugs stored in the labyrinth of tunnels.

Inspector Nick Mawson of Wiltshire Police said: "Local residents are likely to see police presence at Bethel Quarry and surrounding area as officers carry out searches and gather evidence.

SWNS


SWNS


SWNS

"This work is anticipated to carry on into next week due to the size of the location and safety issues at the site and we appreciate the patience of the community."

The network of tunnels of part of a former limestone quarry, which covers around 10 acres. Police say they are still discovering more places where cannabis was being grown underground.

The mines were wound up at the end of the 19th century and the tunnel were used by the War Office in 1939, as a place to store naval equipment.

After the end of World War II Heinz used the area to grow mushrooms for its soup.

Then, in 2011, the tunnels, which have electricity and water, were sold - with the estate agent's description claiming it was ideal place to rent for 'unusual uses', well, I guess they weren't wrong, eh?

SWNS

In 2015 a group of urban explorers went to the site and despite being it had bee 'closed for years' they found that it was 'wide open. Not only open, but the electricity and lights were on'.

One of the group said he had been 'physically assaulted by some thug wielding a baseball bat, who accused them of breaking in'.

SWNS

Two men have since been arrested and charged with the production of cannabis. Alksander Shyti, 45, and 39-year-old Atlin Deda appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court yesterday.

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: uk news, crime, Drugs

Choose your content: