Police have uncovered a massive cannabis factory containing 225 plants in industrial units near King Charles III’s Gloucestershire home, with officers forced to use suspects’ duvet covers to bag evidence when they ran out of evidence bags.
The illegal operation was discovered in Tetbury, just two miles from Highgrove House, the private residence of the King and Queen Camilla. Two officers from Tetbury Neighbourhood Police team stumbled upon the sophisticated growing operation whilst conducting routine patrols of industrial units in the Cotswolds market town on Tuesday night.
PC Callum Morley-Blackwell and PCSO Ed challenged several suspicious men who fled through one of the buildings, prompting a search that revealed the extensive cannabis cultivation alongside living quarters where suspects had been residing on-site.
Officers Resort to Bedding for Evidence
Cotswolds Neighbourhood Police described the extraordinary discovery on social media, admitting the scale of the operation overwhelmed their resources. “It’s been quite the night for the Tetbury Neighbourhood Police Team,” the force said in a statement that revealed unusual operational challenges.
“We have to confess that we ran out of extra-large evidence bags and had to borrow the suspects’ duvet covers in order to recover all of the 225 plants,” officers admitted. “We nearly didn’t get all the evidence in our van.”
The force added with characteristic British police humour: “We’ll be happy to return the bedding if the owners would like to get in touch with us at Cirencester.”
Officers from nearby Dursley were called in to assist with dismantling the sophisticated growing operation, which police say would have generated significant profits for organised crime networks.
Royal Estate Security Concerns
The discovery raises security questions given the proximity to Highgrove House, which lies just southwest of Tetbury and has served as King Charles‘ beloved country retreat since 1980. The Georgian neo-classical mansion sits on a 900-acre organic estate and remains the monarch’s private residence, though ownership technically passed to Prince William as Duke of Cornwall when Charles became King.
Highgrove is protected by extensive security measures including a high stone wall surrounding the estate and special legal protections under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. The property is also just six miles from Gatcombe Park, home to Princess Anne, making the area a significant royal enclave in the Cotswolds.
The King and Queen were not believed to be in residence at the time of the police operation. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on security matters.
Cannabis Cultivation Epidemic
The Tetbury discovery highlights the ongoing battle against large-scale cannabis cultivation across Britain. Industrial-scale growing operations have become increasingly sophisticated, with organised crime groups establishing factories in residential properties, industrial units and abandoned buildings.
These operations pose significant risks beyond drug supply. Police warn that cannabis factories frequently involve dangerous electrical bypasses to power growing lights, creating serious fire hazards. Properties are often damaged by excessive humidity from irrigation systems, whilst toxic fumes from fertilisers can endanger nearby residents.
The cultivation sites are frequently linked to wider criminal networks involved in human trafficking, with vulnerable individuals sometimes held against their will to tend the crops. Many operations involve illegal immigrants who are exploited by criminal gangs and face deportation if discovered.
Scale of National Problem
Cannabis remains Britain’s most widely used illegal drug, with industrial cultivation feeding a multi-billion pound black market. Police forces across England and Wales have intensified efforts to locate and dismantle growing operations, which provide crucial revenue streams for organised crime.
In June 2023, a coordinated national operation saw forces execute 1,000 search warrants against organised crime groups, seizing nearly 200,000 cannabis plants worth an estimated £115-130 million. That operation, codenamed Operation Mille, resulted in over 1,000 arrests and the seizure of £636,000 in cash.
Police identify cannabis factories through various indicators including blacked-out windows, unusual condensation, bright lights at night, tampered electricity meters, powerful sweet smells, and frequent visitors at unsocial hours. Properties used for cultivation often suffer extensive damage from humidity, electrical modifications and structural alterations.
Community Intelligence Crucial
The Tetbury discovery appears to have resulted from proactive policing rather than intelligence reports, with officers encountering the suspects during routine patrols. However, police emphasise that community intelligence remains vital in identifying cultivation sites.
Detective Chief Superintendent Tim Rowlandson of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, speaking about similar operations, said: “Local officers have been key to identifying potential sites and engaging with communities afterwards to provide reassurance and gather evidence.”
Gloucestershire Constabulary has not yet confirmed whether any arrests were made in connection with the Tetbury factory, though the force indicated suspects fled the scene when challenged. The investigation continues, with forensic teams likely examining the site for evidence linking the operation to wider criminal networks.
Royal Cannabis Connections
Ironically, King Charles has long championed organic farming and sustainable agriculture at Highgrove, transforming the estate into a model of environmental stewardship since purchasing it in 1980. The gardens, open to public tours, showcase organic growing techniques and biodiversity initiatives.
The monarch has also shown interest in hemp cultivation for legitimate purposes. In 2007, he was photographed next to a large cannabis plant at Alnwick Castle’s horticultural facility, and in 2011 showcased a hemp-insulated eco house at the Ideal Home Show, promoting the plant’s legitimate industrial uses.
Queen Camilla reportedly showed “keen interest” in CBD products during a 2019 visit to a North London farmers market, discussing potential benefits for conditions like epilepsy. However, both royals have maintained strict positions against illegal drug use and the criminal exploitation associated with cannabis trafficking.
Ongoing Investigation
Gloucestershire Police confirmed the discovery represents one of the larger cannabis factories uncovered in the county recently. The 225 plants seized would likely have produced multiple harvests worth hundreds of thousands of pounds at street value.
The proximity to royal property adds an unusual dimension to what police describe as an increasingly common crime. Cannabis factories have been discovered across Britain in converted nightclubs, residential homes, abandoned buildings and industrial estates, with criminals constantly seeking new locations to avoid detection.
Anyone with information about suspected cannabis cultivation is urged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Warning signs include properties with blacked-out windows, unusual smells, excessive security measures, and frequent short-term visitors carrying bags.
The investigation into the Tetbury cannabis factory continues, with police working to identify those responsible and trace connections to broader criminal networks operating across the region.
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Image Credit:
King Charles III — photo licensed under CC BY 4.0
