£3.6 Million Cannabis Factory Busted in Southampton
Four men have been locked up after cops smashed a massive cannabis factory in Southampton linked to organised crime. The illegal setup was pumping out around £3.6 million worth of weed annually.
Crackdown at Winchester Crown Court
Agron Elezaj, 27, Amarildo Sulaj, 23, Rexhino Koci, 26, and Damiano Saraci, 30, were sentenced on 11 July at Winchester Crown Court. Sulaj and Koci admitted to major roles in running the grow-op. Elezaj and Saraci pleaded guilty to lesser involvement.
- Sulaj got four years and four months behind bars.
- Koci received four years imprisonment.
- Saraci and Elezaj each got 20 months.
- Total prison time handed down: 11 years and eight months.
Raid on Industrial Unit Exposed Modern Slavery Links
Last year police uncovered the sprawling cannabis factory inside a Southampton industrial unit on Pitt Road, suspected of ties to modern slavery. The operation targeted traffickers exploiting vulnerable people as ‘gardeners’ to run the crops.
Officers launched a dawn raid on 11 January, equipping with dogs and drones to seal off the site. They smashed through a metal shutter with an angle grinder, finding no booby traps but a guard dog—a pit bull—who was safely taken by the dog unit.
Three suspects were arrested inside, while Sulaj tried to escape by fleeing across rooftops but fell through a neighbouring building, injuring his ankles before being caught and hospitalised for treatment.
Factory Powered by £625-a-Day Illegal Electricity
The factory was decked out with ventilation, wiring, lamps, and fans, growing over 1,000 cannabis plants across two floors. Officers found a grim living area used by the gang, with a dangerous and makeshift electrical setup posing a major fire risk.
Experts say the crop’s street value at full maturity was up to £900,000. The factory was producing four crops yearly, raking in an estimated £3.6 million.
“This factory is one of the biggest we’ve seen in Southampton. Taking it down dealt a major blow to the organised crime gang behind it,” said DI Stuart Barton.
“Cannabis production on this scale isn’t just about drugs – it fuels serious violence, firearms, and exploitation of children and vulnerable adults.”
“We rely on the public’s info to nail these operations. Even the smallest tip-off could be key.”
