Police discover drugs factory number 26 in city

5:30am Friday 22nd December 2006

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DETECTIVES in Southampton have uncovered another cannabis factory following an early morning raid.

Drugs squad officers swooped on a house in Cranbury Avenue in the Newtown area and seized 381 cannabis plants.

“Landlords need to be aware that the offenders cause a great deal of damage when they convert the houses. They should not be afraid to contact the police if they are concerned about cannabis being grown on their premises."

Detective Inspector Dave Morgan.

The discovery is the latest part of an ongoing investigation in the city which has so far unearthed 26 cannabis factories.

Detectives are questioning a 43-year-old Vietnamese woman who was arrested in the raid, which took place at 8.45am yesterday.

Ten officers from the city's undercover drug squad spent most of yesterday removing cannabis and dismantling growing equipment in the four-bedroom terraced house.

During the raid, officers found 381 mature plants growing in all four bedrooms and in the loft.

Specialist officers told the Daily Echo yesterday that the discovery uncovered one of the largest amounts of cannabis seized so far, totalling more than eight kilos and with an estimated street value well in excess of £50,000.

Officers said the house had been professionally converted into a factory, with an industrial ventilation system, electrical transformers and lighting units.

They are now investigating whether yesterday's discovery is linked to 25 previous drug busts in the city.

Detective Inspector Dave Morgan warned landlords to be on their guard when renting out their houses.

He said: "The house had been fully converted into a professional cannabis growing factory.

"Landlords need to be aware that the offenders cause a great deal of damage when they convert the houses. They should not be afraid to contact the police if they are concerned about cannabis being grown on their premises.

"We want to work with the local community to rid this type of organised crime from Southampton."