Cannabis factory found smack bang outside police custody suite
Police at the scene of the drugs raid
Police at the scene of the drugs raid
A HUGE cannabis factory was found by South Wales Police smack bang next to their own main custody unit in Bridgend.
The dope plants were uncovered in an "empty" factory unit just yards from the South Wales Police HQ.
And three men were today in custody themselves after being arrested in connection with a major drugs bust.
Fellow neighbours were shocked at the cannabis factory - after officers told them it was the biggest they had ever found.
Car maintenance company worker Hayley Pells, 33, said: "No-one had a clue but it could have been going on for a number of years.
They appear to have been very professional. They invested heavily in being very secure and very discreet.
"For a long time we thought it was empty. We didn't see anybody coming or going for extremely long periods of time. This isn't unusual as lots of the units are used only for storage," she said.
Police officers told her father Andy Murdock, 63, it was the biggest haul of cannabis they have ever found.
Hayley added: "The police took some notes and asked if we had seen anyone going in and out of the unit.
"They told us they were suspicious about the unit and sent a helicopter over it to scan the temperature but it was no different to any of the others. They were still suspicious about the unit and when they noticed a smell from it that was when they acted.
"They told us that the plants were growing in insulated boxes which was why nothing showed up on thermal imaging.
"It looks like it was a very well-financed and planned operation but they didn't get away with it. It is quite incredulous that whoever was behind this thought this site was a great idea. They are the closest building to the police station.
"It was a good job that it was noticed by the police as there would have been an awful lot of drugs for sale in the area soon
Her father Andy said: "Our unit is 3,000 sq foot and they had a double unit and a single unit and upstairs as well. It could be as much as 9,000 sq foot of weed. It's amazing if you think about it and really brave of them to grow it next door to the police.
"I'm really not sure how they thought they would get away with it. Literally you could throw a brick from the back of this unit and it would land in the police station it's that close.
"We had no idea whatsoever what was going on. I'm shocked and very surprised.”
A South Wales Police spokeswoman said: "Three men have been arrested and are currently in police custody.
"No further detail is available at present. A further update on how the investigation is processing will be given on Monday once more detail is known."
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