Four arrested over underground drugs factory

[David]

The Argus wrote.
Four arrested over underground drugs factory
By Jess Bauldry

Four people have been arrested in connection with setting up a sophisticated underground drugs factory.

The arrests are a major step in a criminal investigation launched earlier this month.

The cannabis workshop was discovered on farmland near Burgess Hill by firefighters responding to a mobile home fire metres from the site.
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Police were astounded by the boldness of its creators, who buried eight cargo containers underground on part of the 53 acres belonging to Leigh Water Mill Farm, in Cuckfield Road, Ansty.

In the labyrinth of tunnels they rigged up electricity to make conditions perfect for growing the class C drug.

Altogether, more than 300 mature cannabis plants were removed from the tanks. It was thought the containers had been used for several years to produce hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of drugs.

At the weekend three men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting the production of cannabis and for firearms offences.

Police carried out searches at two further addresses to gather evidence and they have hinted that more arrests are expected as forensics evidence comes to light.

The four suspects were interviewed by detectives and have been released on police bail.

Sergeant John Wallace, of Haywards Heath Police Station, said the drugs cache was the largest he had seen in his career. He hoped its discovery and subsequent closure would have an impact on the availability of drugs locally.

Police have already received a number of calls from people with information but are still appealing for witnesses. Anyone who saw or knew about the factory's construction or knowingly supplied materials including electrical equipment, heating and fertiliser, should contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999, quoting operation Gortin.