Seven people have been arrested and charged after police uncovered a large scale cannabis farm inside a derelict former school building in Wick, in what officers have described as a significant operation targeting organised drug supply in the north.
The discovery was made on Thursday 29 January 2026 when officers acting on intelligence executed a warrant at a building on West Bank Avenue and found a sophisticated cannabis cultivation set up inside.
Police said the site contained more than 5,900 cannabis plants along with a quantity of dried cannabis, with the overall estimated street value put at £7.1million.
The dried cannabis alone was said to have a potential street value of £456,000, highlighting the scale of the operation uncovered at the property.
Two men aged 44 and 27, along with a 17 year old male youth, were arrested and charged in connection with the find and appeared at Wick Sheriff Court on Friday 30 January 2026.
A further four men aged 46, 35, 23 and 23 were later arrested and charged as part of the same investigation and appeared at the same court on Tuesday 3 February 2026.
The operation was led by Police Scotland working alongside partner agencies, with officers carrying out enquiries in the area over several days.
Detective Inspector Phoebe McDaid said the recovery underlined ongoing efforts to disrupt organised drug activity and remove illegal substances from communities.
“This is a very significant recovery and an example of our efforts to disrupt the activities of those involved in the supply of illegal drugs.
“We’d like to thank our partner agencies for their cooperation in ensuring this operation was a success, as well as the local community for their patience and understanding while enquiries were carried out.”
Detective Inspector McDaid said the harm caused by drugs extended far beyond those directly involved in their production and supply.
“Drugs cause misery in our communities and the public has an important role to play in helping Police Scotland target those responsible for the cultivation, supply and sale of illegal substances.
“Anyone with any information or concerns about drugs in their community can call Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
