Underground cannabis factory discovered in Cliffe
Plants with an estimated street value of between £45,000 and £90,000 were found
Plants with an estimated street value of between £45,000 and £90,000 were found
An underground cannabis factory containing nearly 100 plants has been discovered by police officers in Kent.
Plants with an estimated street value of between £45,000 and £90,000 was discovered at a disused barn in Cliffe after police officers obtained a search warrant.
The authority was alerted to the factory in Salt Lane after a local resident contacted his neighbourhood PCSO to complain about a generator which was constantly running at the back of an apparent rundown barn.
However, thermal image cameras were used to detect heat patches and a trap door which led to a secret bunker full of cannabis plants was discovered.
Kent Fire and Rescue crews were also sent to the scene to stabile the crumbling ceiling which had been damaged by the drugs operation.
The cultivators have not been found, and although they lived in mobile homes on the site, they were never seen on the land.
Medway's detective inspector Geoff Payne said: "A member of the public contacted their local PCSO to report the generator being on all day, every day.
"After initial investigation, the PCSO suspected something was going on and it was then that we uncovered what was going on at this site.
"It was well thought out and extensive work has been carried out to create this underground factory. They had dug the base of the barn out and put containers in and a ceiling, leaving a man hole cover to gain access in and out.
"The underground operation has now been dismantled and we will be working with the local authority to ensure the barn is safe."
http://www.yourcanterbury.co.uk 09/12/2013
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