POLICE have seized around 1,000 cannabis plants during a major drugs raid in central Southampton.
Officers were yesterday seen smashing their way into a property in The Polygon, in the city centre.
Once inside, police recovered hundreds of cannabis plants.
It is the second major drugs haul in Southampton this week.
Police seized another 1,000 cannabis plants during a raid in Bevois Valley on Monday – though officers were unable to say if the two incidents were linked at this stage.
One resident, a 19-year-old University of Southampton student, was awoken to the sound of a “thud” when police carried out the raid, at around 10am yesterday.
He said: “I was woken up when I heard the banging.
“We’ve had some work done in the house and thought it was someone laying carpet.
(Two University of Southampton students, Jethro and Luke, were "shocked" to see police carrying out the raid)
“I’m from a rural area so it was a bit of a surprise.”
Another University of Southampton student, 19, added: “It’s crazy that something like that was going on so close to us.”
Police were last night unable to give estimates on the street value of both hauls.
But a similar-sized seizure in Bristol last year was said to be around £1 million.
Three men aged, 18, 21 and 36, were arrested on suspicion of producing a controlled drug of class B, following the raid at The Polygon.
All three are currently in police custody and enquiries are ongoing.
Inspector Clive Marsh of the Southampton High Harm Team has said “The arrests are part of our ongoing work to tackle drug-related crime in Southampton.
“Drugs can have a devastating impact on people’s lives and on the community as a whole.
“The large cultivation of cannabis can often be linked to serious organised crime and is also a way to fund other criminal activity.
“This includes the exploitation of vulnerable adults and children who are often used to sell drugs or commit other offences that arise out of issues such as drug debts.
“The fire risk posed by these large scale factories is also greatly increased, which can endanger those living or working in the immediate surrounding area.
“I’d like to reassure the community that we are determined to do all we can to disrupt this type of activity and to keep our communities safe.”
On Tuesday, police raided a cannabis farm at a property in Dukes Road, Southampton.
Police say no arrests have been made but an investigation is ongoing.
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