Over 240 Cannabis Plants Found in M1 Drainage Culvert in Northamptonshire

More than 240 cannabis plants were discovered growing inside a drainage culvert beneath the M1 near Watford, Northamptonshire, in an unusual and sophisticated setup, police have said.

Maintenance workers from National Highways found the grow on Friday, November 28, and reported it to Northamptonshire Police. The culvert, a closed tunnel designed to carry water beneath the motorway, had been boarded up to conceal the plants.

Daventry Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Jonathan Davis-Lyons described the discovery as “one of the most unusual locations we have discovered a cannabis grow,” noting the extensive shelving and diverted power used to keep the plants healthy and above water.

Dismantling the grow was complicated by heavy rainfall and the culvert’s remote location, with the nearest road access about a mile away. Officers were assisted by a local landowner who provided transport and trailers to remove the plants safely.

Daventry Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Lewis Judd, who oversaw the operation, said: “This was a particularly difficult cannabis grow to dismantle due to the torrential rain and the remote location. Thanks to the support of a local landowner, we were able to close it down.”

No arrests have been made, and police are appealing for anyone with information about those responsible to come forward.