THREE men were found hiding in a squalid attic in Wellington last month after police discovered a cannabis grow at the site, prompting concerns over modern slavery.

Avon and Somerset Police attended an industrial unit surrounded by residential roads on Wednesday, February 12, where they uncovered a 424-plant cannabis grow.

This comes after a national operation took place to target cannabis cultivation – Operation Mille – which saw 36 properties searched and 26 arrests made across the south west.

Three men that were found hiding in the attic were taken into custody on suspicion of being concerned in the production of a class B drug.

All three were bailed following interview and two of the individuals were referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) as their accounts raised suspicions of modern slavery.

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“The NRM is a framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery and ensuring they receive the appropriate support,” a spokesperson for the force said.

“The individuals described in this case will be safeguarded while the investigation continues.”

Exploitation is often found at the heart of cannabis grows, as vulnerable adults and children are trafficked by organised crime groups and coerced into labour at production sites.

They might be subject to threats, violence and sexual abuse and feel like they have no other option but to concede to the demands of drug criminals.

They might be forced to live in cramped and unsanitary environments where food and freedom are limited.

Not only that, but they become pawns in a much bigger criminal network, often the first to be caught by law enforcement.

Operation Mile saw policing teams from Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) work together to combat the cannabis grows.

The police is encouraging people to report any signs of cannabis production in their area Picture: Avon and Somerset Police

The operation saw the seizure of 2,240 cannabis plants, 246g cocaine, 500g and 32 wraps of ketamine, more than 20 nitrous oxide (NOS) cannisters, 10 weapons, and more than £57,000 in cash.

These successes contributed to the national picture where enforcement across the UK led to 346 property searches and 225 arrests. In total, police forces seized more than 45,000 cannabis plants, 59 weapons (including 14 firearms) and more than £183,000 in cash.

Acting detective, chief inspector Matthew Lloyd of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “This operation has demonstrated, once again, what we can achieve as a region when police forces take a united stand against drug supply and related serious crime and exploitation.

“Organised crime knows no bounds or borders. It requires a robust response from our intelligence and operational teams to make the South West of England as hostile an environment as possible for drug criminals.

“By dismantling cannabis farms and disrupting supply chains, we are making significant headway in our fight against serious organised crime and protecting our communities from harm.

“These kinds of cases can be incredibly complex: in Wellington, although the suspects were arrested on suspicion of being involved in a criminal enterprise – illegal drug production and supply – they could also be victims and therefore extremely vulnerable.

“If you suspect drug activity or cannabis cultivation locally, I can’t overestimate the importance of reporting what you know.

“The intelligence you provide, no matter how big or small, can help us bring perpetrators to justice and safeguard vulnerable people caught up in criminal activities.”