Smell from Spellbrook cannabis factory masked by a pile of manure

AN elaborate underground cannabis factory, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, has been discovered in Spellbrook - concealed by a horse in a stable.

The illegal operation was unearthed in Spellbrook Lane East on Monday afternoon last week after police were called to investigate a report of two men acting suspiciously in the area. They found much more than they bargained for.

Upon searching the area, officers found a trap door under a horse in a stable which led underground to three 40ft shipping containers, each one filled with cannabis plants at different stages of growth.

East Herts Chief Inspector Gerry McDonald told the Observer: "The initial reaction was one of surprise. I've never come across anything like it before - it's the first I know of in the country.

"We would never have been able to detect this from the way it was set up. You couldn't see or smell any cannabis - the exhaust pipe led out into a compost heap containing manure which masked the smell."

According to a nearby resident, almost a dozen emergency service vehicles converged on the scene, near the level crossing over the London-Cambridge railway line, at around 5.40pm.

Ch Insp McDonald continued: "We knew this was a serious risk waiting to happen so we took the decision to treat it as a major incident."

The Multi Agency Initial Assessment Team (MAIAT), which deals with potential chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive incidents, was called in due to the nature of the find.

Engineers from UK Power Networks were called to disconnect the power supply after it was discovered that the factory was being run by the 30,000-volt electricity cables overhead.

A spokeswoman said: "We take the illegal abstraction of electricity very seriously and warn that anyone interfering with an electricity meter risks electrocution and could start a fire. An illegal connection can produce enough heat to spark a fire which can endanger the lives of occupants and any neighbouring properties."

No arrests have been made but police are following up a number of leads.

"It's hard to tell how long the factory has been there, but I would say it's been an extremely long period of time, judging by the way the land has settled on top of it," said Ch Insp McDonald.

"There were lots of plants growing in the containers and this would have been a continuous cycle worth a substantial sum of money."

The horse has since been found a new home and the public have been warned not to go near the area.

Ch Insp McDonald said: "This is a very elaborate set-up by an organised crime group who have gone to great time and expense to do this and I would like to thank the members of the public who called in. This find will have a significant impact on the supply of cannabis."

http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk 11/07/2013