One of the UK's largest cannabis farms has been rumbled by specialist cops - with the cost of the crops estimated to be more than £1m.
National Crime Agency officers were alerted to a former nightclub in Coventry, Warwickshire on Thursday.
Officers smashed through several reinforced doors to access the huge grow, which spanned across three floors in the huge building.
NCA officials have valued the grow of around 1,000 cannabis plants at more than £1m.
Sophisticated planting, growing and irrigation equipment, which has been valued at around £150,000, was also recovered.
Three men were arrested in connection with the grow - two of which had to be tracked down by drone as they fled the building.
NCA Branch Commander Adam Warnock said: “This is a significant drug seizure which will have a huge impact on the organised crime groups involved, depriving them of commodity and profit.
“The size of the cannabis factory was significant and sophisticated, spread across three floors of a large building. It is certainly one of the largest grows ever uncovered by the NCA.
“Operations like this underline the value and power of working with law enforcement partners like West Midlands Police to take down high-harm criminals.
“Our investigation into this seizure continues.”
The operation was supported by officers from the West Midlands Police Cannabis Disruption Team.
Ch Supt Lee Wharmby, Head of West Midlands Police’s Operations department, said: “Our pilots helped detain two people using our state-of-the art drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras.
“It’s always great when we can help out a partner agency. Our job is to protect the public and drones are invaluable to us.”
