Cannabis farm described by police as 'something from a James Bond film'  

Police have described a drugs factory as "like something from a James Bond film" following a raid in which they seized cannabis plants valued at more than £200,000.

Officers said they were stunned when they found almost half the plants hidden behind a door which had been made to look like a bookcase.

A sophisticated set up across six farm buildings hid around 600 plants in various stages of growth, police said.

In a joint operation by Wiltshire Police and Avon and Somerset Police four men were arrested during the raid at two locations.

Three men were arrested at Fairfield Piggeries, in Bradford Leigh, Wiltshire, while another man was arrested in Stoke St Michael, in Somerset, as part of the sting.

Sergeant Scott Hargreave, of Wiltshire Police said: "There was quite a sophisticated set-up on the farm to hide the plants.

"They had a door mocked up as a bookcase, which looked like something from a James Bond film. There were some metal cabinets against the wall, there were some shelves on the wall, and there was a book case and then a couple of coats on the wall next to this bookcase.

"Initially looking at it you would never have realised, but we knew that somewhere in the room they had to have access to where the plants were and eventually one of the team moved some of the coats off the wall and as they did that they pulled a nail which was nailing a bit of wood on to the wall which was in fact this book case which was on a hinge and then it just swung out.

"It took us into another corridor where there were another three more rooms. The whole thing was very elaborate - they had the hidden door way behind the bookcase and then in one of the other rooms they had three metal doors and then these small corridors that eventually took you into another couple of rooms where they were growing cannabis.

"They put a lot of time and effort into trying to conceal this place."

Police estimate £225,000 worth of cannabis plants were found at the farm on Wednesday morning.

The raid on the cannabis factory - one of the largest found in that part of the county - included two dog units, the dedicated crime team and other support teams.

The armed response group also seized seven guns during the raids.

A police spokesman said there is a certificate holder for the firearms but they were taken pending the result of the criminal investigation.

A 61-year-old man, two 60-year-old men and a 31-year-old man arrested over cultivating cannabis have been released on bail while inquiries continue.

Both police forces said they wanted to stress any supply or distribution of drugs would not be tolerated and they would act robustly to target individuals involved in the cultivation or supply of drugs.

Paul Bunt, head of force drugs strategy for Avon and Somerset police said: "Officers continue to clamp down on cannabis across Avon and Somerset.

"In addition we are working with our neighbouring forces to ensure that crime cannot cross county borders. This seizure demonstrates that we are getting results."

http://www.mirror.co.uk 30/1/2012