Police say den was run by Vietnamese gang

8:42am Thursday 10th July 2008

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POLICE in Chippenham busted the town's first ever drugs factory last week and recovered a haul of cannabis thought to be worth £100,000.

The raid took place on July 4 after a member of the public tipped off police when they saw bin liners full of the drugs being taken from the house in Heathfield.

A team of 15 officers swooped on the house and found that it had been converted into a drugs den with close to 500 cannabis plants.

Police have launched a search for the three men, thought to be Vietnamese.

Chief Inspector Gavin Williams said: "This is the first of its kind in Chippenham and we believe it to be part of an organised gang who operate all over the country.

"All of the plants were in various stages - some had been cropped, some were still growing and some were ready to go - it was a proper commercial enterprise.

"The whole operation was down to a tip-off from a member of the public so it just goes to show how crucial these are to us.

"I would urge anyone who thinks something suspicious is going on to contact us immediately - this is your community."

Neighbours living close to the drug den have spoken of their relief now it has been raided.

One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We have known for some time that something dodgy was going on - but we never thought in a million years it would be something on this scale.

"There were always people coming and going and leaving at all hours with plastic bags and cases.

"You never think something like this could be going on right on your doorstep."