Police seize drugs worth £650,000

Cannabis factories like this one have been popping up all over Southampton

Drugs with a street value of £650,000 have been seized and 19 people have been arrested as part of a three-month police clampdown in Southampton.

It was carried out after Hampshire police noted "a surge" in the number of cannabis factories springing up in rented properties across the city.

Since April, 20 factories have been raided and cannabis worth thousands on the street seized.

Officers said the factories were linked to Vietnamese organised crime gangs.

They have been discovered in privately-rented three or four bedroom houses in residential areas across Southampton.

The latest discovery detectives made was on Thursday in the Shirley area.

Two factories were found, one in Old Mill Way and the other in Foundry Lane.

Cannabis with a combined street value of £150,000 was seized and one person arrested.

Trafficked 'gardeners'

Police believe Vietnamese nationals, who have been found at the raided premises, have been illegally trafficked into the UK.

They have then been put into the properties to act as "gardeners" looking after the plants.

Sgt Lee Macarthur said: "We are continuing to appeal to the public to report any information or suspicions about houses in your street that may be used to grow controlled drugs.

"Things to look out for include; closed, blacked out windows, powerful lights left on in the house throughout the night, a strong, pungent smell coming from the property, vehicles coming and going at night, unkempt gardens and no occupants being seen during the daytime."

"We'd like to remind the public that cannabis factories are dangerous and pose a risk.

"They are associated with organised gang crime, and have previously been responsible for fires and power surges, all of which can impact on neighbouring addresses."