£2.5 Million Cannabis Farm Discovered In Vacant Barrow Building
Around 1,000 cannabis plants have been discovered inside a vacant building in Barrow, where police uncovered a large scale cultivation operation.
Officers raided the building on Preston Street after police investigations led them to the premises. The operation resulted in the discovery of cannabis plants at different stages of growth, indicating that cultivation had been taking place within the property.
The raid took place on September 11, when officers entered the vacant building as part of enforcement activity connected with suspected cannabis production. Inside, they found a substantial number of plants alongside equipment used to support their cultivation.
Cumbria Police said the cannabis being produced at the premises had an estimated value of around £2.5 million. The valuation reflects the scale of the operation and the quantity of plants discovered during the police action.
The plants were found in various stages of growth rather than all being at the same stage of development. This suggests that different parts of the cultivation process were taking place within the building when officers carried out the raid.
Police also seized equipment associated with the cultivation of cannabis. Details of the individual items recovered have not been released, but officers confirmed that equipment used to grow the plants was present alongside the crop.
The discovery was made at a vacant property on Preston Street in Barrow. The building was not being used for its intended ordinary occupation when officers carried out the operation, providing space for the cultivation activity to take place away from normal residential or commercial use.
The scale of the discovery makes the operation one involving a substantial quantity of cannabis plants. The estimated value given by police provides an indication of the potential commercial scale of the cultivation activity uncovered at the premises.
Cannabis farms can involve the conversion of buildings into controlled growing environments, with equipment used to support plants through different stages of cultivation. In this case, police confirmed that cultivation equipment was recovered alongside the plants.
The investigation remains focused on establishing information connected with the operation and identifying those responsible. No further details about arrests or individuals connected with the premises were provided in the available information about the raid.
Police are now asking members of the public who may have information relating to the cannabis farm to come forward. Information that could assist the investigation may include knowledge about activity at the Preston Street building or people connected with its use.
Anyone with relevant information can report it to Cumbria Police online, quoting incident number 10 of September 11, 2026. Information can also be provided by calling 101 for the force to assess as part of its investigation.
The discovery highlights the role of intelligence and information in identifying premises being used for illegal drug cultivation. Members of the public may sometimes hold information about unusual activity around vacant or rarely occupied buildings that could assist police enquiries.
Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The organisation allows members of the public to provide information without giving their identity, which may be an option for people who are concerned about coming forward directly.
The investigation follows the seizure of the plants and cultivation equipment from the Preston Street building. Police have not released further details about the circumstances that led to the raid, and enquiries into the cannabis farm are continuing.
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