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(Image: STAFFORDSHIRE POLICE/GETTY)

Officers swooped and arrested six men at the poultry barn where more than 3,100 plants were growing.

They would have produced crops worth £1.5million.

Staffordshire Police believe the factory was capable of producing three to four crops each year which could have raked in more than £5m.

(Image: STAFFORDSHIRE POLICE)

Living quarters were provided for the six “gardeners” who cultivated the massive stash, and there were even nurseries for baby plants to thrive.

Three men were detained at Three Angels Farm in Wheaton Aston, Staffs, and three more were arrested following a police search, which included support from the National Police Air Service.

The men, aged between 17 and 44, are from the UK and Albania and were taken into custody at Watling police station near Gailey, Staffs.

(Image: STAFFORDSHIRE POLICE)

Insp Richard Meaden, South Staffordshire’s local policing commander, said: “The investigation is at an early stage. However, we can confirm that approximately 3,100 cannabis plants were recovered.

“This is the largest and most sophisticated cannabis factory I’ve ever experienced and I am delighted we have been able to take such a large number of drugs off the streets.”

The force released video footage showing the scale of the factory, with marijuana growing in separate rooms with specialised lighting.

It shows rows of plants and masses of growing equipment, as well as small tanks full of thousands of plants.