Brazen drug dealers converted a disused police station into a 1,000 plant strong cannabis farm.
Stunned officers made the find yesterday at Falsworth police station in Manchester which closed six years ago.
It had been the base for the former local Neighbourhood Policing Team.
They'd spotted that the building was insecure, and on entering discovered the remains of a "huge cannabis production".
They said that the entire first floor and loft space had been used to grow more than 1,000 plants, but only root balls, soil and empty pots remained, the MEN reports.
A post on GMP Failsworth and Hollinwood's Facebook page said: "It is believed the grow was 'taxed' in the early hours of this morning where all the cannabis plants had been removed.
"The electricity meter had also been bypassed.
"From items left at the scene it appears the "gardeners" had been living/sleeping at the location."
They added that what was left of the operation had been put to good use - it was donated to a local growing hub at Earls Lodge.
The post also explained: "The building was vacated by the police six years ago as part of the cuts to the Police budget and not used by us since. It was sold at auction a short time later. The building has been privately owned ever since."
The post was widely shared across Facebook and amused followers were quick to comment on the revelation.
Debbie Kendrick Lyons said: "I know I shouldn't but I've found this quite comical ...This would have been a good story for and old black-and-white Ealing Studio comedy film."
And Stephen Johnson added: "I think this might be what they call SPECIAL BRANCH of the police force."
