A cannabis factory with 180 plants and almost 150 seedlings has been pulled apart by police in Southampton. 

Officers attended a residential property on Malwood Avenue yesterday (Sunday, July 21) where the haul was discovered. 

A total of 180 cannabis plants were found inside in various stages of growth as well as 144 seedlings. 

Police remained at the property and the factory was dismantled and made safe by SSE. 

READ MORE: Police seized ‘eight deal bags’ of drugs at Southampton home

A 38-year-old man from Southampton was arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation. 

He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue. 

Police Sergeant Arron Taylor said: “We know some people think it is just a bit of cannabis, but we want to stress that any production of drugs is linked to hidden harm.

“Large-scale operations are often run by organised crime gangs, who are likely to engage in very serious violence involving weapons, such as firearms.

“The electrical requirement to grow a large amount of plants is also dangerous and can be a huge fire risk, putting neighbouring properties, and lives, in danger.

“We encourage people to please continue to report suspicious behaviour and suspected drug dealing in your neighbourhood to police, as the information you provide helps us develop the bigger picture that leads us to take action and remove drugs from the streets.”

You can contact police on 101 or online at https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/

Anyone with information regarding this specific incident should quote reference 44240309546.

You can also report information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting https://crimestoppers-uk.org/