A stunned house buyer thought he was getting the keys to his dream home in quiet Manea, Cambridgeshire — but what awaited him was a full-scale cannabis factory packed with dozens of illegal weed plants.
Shocking photos released by Cambridgeshire Police on Facebook reveal the jaw-dropping scene that greeted the new owner.
“The new owners of a property in Manea were greeted with this surprise when they opened it up for the first time!,” said a post on Policing Fenland Facebook.
“They may have expected to do a bit of gardening, but this wasn’t what they had in mind.”
In the first snap, rows of bright green cannabis plants — with their tell-tale jagged, hand-shaped leaves — are bursting out of black pots under eerie grow lights. A humidifier and tangled wires give away the makeshift setup hidden inside what looks like a basement or back room.
Fast-forward and the second photo shows the same crop gone wild: a thick jungle of bushy plants glowing under sinister orange lamps, many already sprouting early buds. Up to 50 to 70 plants were growing strong.
Experts reckon the haul could have produced up to 25lbs of top-grade skunk — enough to rake in a staggering £30,000 to £70,000 on the UK black market, where a single gram fetches £8-£15.
But instead of a big payday for some crook, the whole lot was busted when the clueless buyer walked in.
Cambridgeshire Police are warning that illegal cannabis farms are popping up in ordinary homes across the county. They often bring terrifying dangers: dodgy electrics, fire hazards, and links to organised crime gangs.
Police are urging people to keep their eyes peeled for tell-tale signs — constant blackout curtains, weird smells, or strange comings and goings at all hours.
For the new homeowner, what should have been a happy moving-in day turned into a nightmare he’ll never forget.
The police post added: “Thankfully, they gave us a call, our officers attended to remove the plants and an investigation is ongoing.”
Not everyone thought it a bad day for the house buyer
“That’s the best housewarming present ever,” was the thought of one commenter on the police Facebook page.
