Police raid nuclear bunker - find 'enormous' cannabis factory

The bunker was built in the 1980s to protect government officials in the event of a nuclear attack. Credit: Wiltshire police

Six people have been arrested after an "enormous" cannabis factory was discovered in a nuclear bunker.

Police carried on a midnight raid on RGHQ Chilmark - near a village in Wiltshire.

The bunker was built in the 1980s to protect government officials in the event of a nuclear attack.

Although it's no longer owned by the Ministry of Defence, the bunker's nuclear blast doors are still in place - making it almost completely impenetrable.

Police waited outside for three people inside the bunker to leave and detained them, using their keys to gain entry.

Credit: Wiltshire Police

Inside, they found another three people believed to be acting as gardeners - along with several thousand cannabis plants.

Credit: Wiltshire Police

The six people arrested include a 15 year old boy.

  • male, aged 15, of no fixed abode, arrested on suspicion of cannabis production

  • male, aged 19, of no fixed abode, arrested on suspicion of cannabis production

  • male, aged 37, of no fixed abode, arrested on suspicion of cannabis production

  • male, aged 27, from Somerset, arrested on suspicion of cannabis production and human trafficking offences

  • male, aged 30, from Somerset, arrested on suspicion of cannabis production and human trafficking offences

  • male, aged 45, from Somerset, arrested on suspicion of cannabis production and human trafficking offences

Credit: Wiltshire Police

The bunker

The 1980s bunker contains around 20 rooms spread over two floors - almost all of them had been converted for the wholesale production of cannabis plants.