Builders in Essex used a drone to track a suspect fleeing a suspected £1million cannabis farm they had unexpectedly discovered hidden inside a former chicken barn. Contractors from Keystones Property Group had been legitimately instructed to survey the barns in Layer Marney for conversion into storage units, but grew suspicious when they found buildings secured with covered windows and running ventilation equipment, before being warned by "guardians" on site to leave for their own safety. The company said the greatest concern was the unwitting danger posed to its staff, who had no idea criminal activity might be taking place at the site.

Essex Police discovered what they described as an "extremely substantial cannabis cultivation operation", with hundreds of plants filling a large barn alongside living quarters including beds, cooking facilities and washing amenities; a second barn appeared to have been prepared for similar use. Contractors first visited the farm on 24 July 2026 regarding refurbishment of two bungalows, and returned on 28 August 2026 to inspect the chicken barns, at which point they alerted police and captured drone footage of individuals fleeing the site. A 24-year-old man has since been arrested and released under investigation on suspicion of cannabis cultivation.