Three men guilty of drug production offences as cannabis factory dismantled

Three men have pleaded guilty to drug production offences as a large cannabis factory in Southampton has been dismantled.

The factory was located after officers conducted enquiries at a warehouse on Millbank Street on Friday, 21 October.

Officers arrested the occupants after entering the warehouse and a scene has been in place since then so that teams could dismantle the extensive drug production operation found inside.

Over 2,000 plants were seized and will be destroyed.

On Monday, at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, Rezart Selami, 29, Alfred Mamoci, 35, and Selami Lugja, 31, all pleaded guilty to producing a controlled drug of class B – cannabis.

They have been remanded in prison to appear at Southampton Crown Court on 15 November.

Supt Phil Lamb, district commander for Southampton, said: “This factory is one of the largest found in the city and by dismantling it, we have disrupted the organised crime groups that exploit and cause harm across our communities.

“Some might say cannabis is only a bit of drugs, but what production of this scale brings is exploitation of adults and children, serious violence, weapons and firearms.

“If you think drug production is happening in your neighbourhood, please report it so we can carry on making our city a safer place to live.”