Wiltshire Police have uncovered one of the largest and most advanced cannabis cultivation sites ever found in the county. Hidden inside a disused poultry unit near Burbage, more than 1,500 cannabis plants were seized, with an estimated street value of around £500,000.
Detectives revealed that the criminal operation was powered by electricity illegally drawn directly from the national grid, with losses estimated at approximately £1.5 million. The site, a 60-meter by 12-meter single-story barn, had been expertly converted into multiple internal rooms housing plants at various growth stages—from seedlings to mature bushes.
Detective Sergeant Joe Shanklin, part of the investigative team, described the scale and complexity of the setup: “The farm included hundreds of grow lamps and a fully automated irrigation system, all fed by stolen electricity. We also found evidence that several individuals were living onsite, with makeshift bedrooms and cooking facilities inside the barn.”
The illegal farm was reported to authorities by a member of the public on July 17. Since then, engineers have safely disconnected the hazardous power supply, while police worked in challenging conditions—high temperatures and low light—wearing protective equipment to safely dismantle the operation and remove all plants and equipment.
No arrests were made at the scene, but investigations are ongoing. The seized cannabis plants will be transported to a secure facility for destruction.
Wiltshire Police urged the public to continue reporting suspicious activity in their communities, emphasizing that anonymous tips can be made via the 101 number, the police website, or Crimestoppers.