Hampshire police raided a farm on the outskirts of Kingsclere after reports of excess compost being delivered to the property.[1][2] Officers found thousands of plants being grown in rows in barns on the farm, which was protected by guard dogs, and put their street value at about £1.5 million.[1][2] They also found two crossbows in one of the three barns used to grow and dry the drug.[1][2]

On the Monday of that week officers arrested five men: a 56-year-old of Kingsclere, a 48-year-old of Thatcham, a 47-year-old of Reading, a 29-year-old listed as of Nebury and a 20-year-old of Manor Park in east London.[1][2] All five were released under investigation after being arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cannabis.[1]

The raided farm was on Union Lane in Kingsclere, according to a Hampshire police spokeswoman.[1][2] Sergeant Carl Holmes, who oversaw the raid, called it the biggest cannabis farm he had ever seen during a bust.[1][2] An unnamed source quoted in the reports claimed the farm was worth about £6 million a year and that it took officers days to clear the plants.[1][2]