Four men have been arrested after a cannabis farm was discovered inside a former hotel in Aboyne.
Residents reported a heavy police presence around the uninhabited Huntly Arms Hotel after officers rushed to the scene this morning.
Police have been on the scene since shortly before 9am. The alarm was raised after contractors arrived on site to start work.
The hotel has not been occupied since 2019, and a campaign group has been set up to save it falling into further disrepair.
Electricians were seen arriving on the scene at 11am. Police later confirmed the hotel was being used as a cannabis farm.
Security contractors were seen boarding up windows at the hotel in the afternoon with people prevented from going into the car park outside the front of the building.
A police spokesman said: “We were made aware of cannabis found being grown within a building on Charlestown Road in Aboyne shortly after 8.40am on Monday January 16.
“Four men have been arrested in connection with the recovery and inquiries are ongoing.”
Fears today’s find could delay improvement works
After lying vacant for years, Aberdeenshire Council recently took enforcement action ordering the owner to make improvements on grounds of proper maintenance.
The owners are thought to have last visited the hotel in December, when they met local campaigners.
The premises has a long history in Aboyne with a stopping place being on the site of the hotel from as far back as 1432.
Bonnie Prince Charlie and Queen Victoria both stayed in earlier incarnations with the building being christened the Huntly Arms Hotel in 1882.
This morning campaigners said there appeared to be nothing untoward going on at the hotel at the end of last year – and feared today’s incident could delay improvement works further.
One local said: “By the number of police cars, it looks serious. We have heard it is some sort of drugs bust.”
Dave Marshall, from the Huntly Arms Regeneration Project, confirmed the drama unfolded after workers arrived.
He added: “It appears they found the drugs then.
“It now appears those works might be delayed while the police carry out their investigations.
“This sad incident just reinforces the need for it to be brought back into use.”
Four charged after cannabis farm discovered at Huntly Arms Hotel in Aboyne
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