In a shocking discovery that has stunned local residents, Northamptonshire Police have found one of the largest cannabis factory operations ever uncovered in the county. The massive cannabis factory was hidden inside a former town-centre casino, the old Aspers Casino on Commercial Street, which closed last year.
Detectives described the cannabis factory as a highly sophisticated setup spanning three floors, containing more than a thousand plants at various stages of growth. Officers discovered complex lighting, irrigation, and ventilation systems designed to maximize production while keeping the operation secret. The windows of the disused casino were boarded up, allowing the cannabis factory to operate unseen right in the middle of town.
Police said gaining entry to the cannabis factory wasn’t easy. Criminals had built a solid brick wall behind the main door to slow down any potential raid. Specialist officers were called in to break through and gain access, only to find an enormous underground industry running inside. Investigators believe the cannabis factory is linked to an organized crime group, possibly operating across several counties.
The discovery followed a community tip-off that led police to the site. Officers say that local intelligence remains one of the strongest weapons in dismantling large-scale cannabis factory networks.
This latest raid follows a similar case in Huntingdon earlier this year, where police found another cannabis factory worth more than £1 million inside a former Poundland store. The growing trend of criminals using abandoned commercial properties highlights the adaptability of organized gangs in turning legitimate spaces into large-scale drug farms.
Beyond the illegal drug trade, police warn that every cannabis factory comes with hidden human costs. Vulnerable people are often trafficked or coerced into working in these sites, living in unsafe conditions under threat of violence. Officers say that shutting down this cannabis factory is about more than destroying illegal crops — it’s also about disrupting the exploitation that fuels such enterprises.
As investigations continue, one suspect has been arrested, and forensic teams are working to dismantle and remove the thousands of plants. Northamptonshire Police have vowed to keep pursuing those behind this vast cannabis factory, promising further action to protect communities and prevent more abandoned buildings from being turned into drug-growing sites.
