Police have seized two tonnes of cannabis with an estimated street value of £24 million from a remote farm near Bolton, in what officers describe as one of the largest drugs raids ever carried out in Britain. The haul was discovered after Greater Manchester Police executed a warrant at Leigh Tenement Farm on Friday.
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Two men, aged 27 and 35, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of drugs offences and remain in custody for questioning. Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop said officers uncovered a “large-scale and sophisticated” operation, adding that the seizure would significantly disrupt criminal networks and help protect local communities.
Investigators believe the raid highlights a growing trend of organised crime groups using isolated rural locations to produce cannabis on an industrial scale. Police say this approach is increasingly being used alongside large quantities of cannabis being imported into the UK from overseas.
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The operation follows a sharp rise in cannabis detections at UK borders, particularly shipments linked to Thailand, which decriminalised cannabis in 2022. More than 15 tonnes of cannabis were intercepted in late 2024, while the National Crime Agency has also charged multiple people in connection with major smuggling attempts through UK airports.
