Police raid reveals £200K cannabis factory in Peterborough

Mark Paplekaj has been jailed for 32 months as part of national crackdown on organised crime

A cannabis factory containing plants worth £200,000 has been uncovered during a police raid on a house.

Mature plants, 153 seedlings and cannabis buds were found in three rooms of a property in Peterborough in June.

Mark Paplekaj, 32, was jailed for two years and eight months at Cambridge Crown Court after admitting charges of producing Class B drugs.

Cambridgeshire Police said: "Cannabis factories present a very real local threat."

The raid was carried out as part of Operation Mile, a national crackdown against organised crime groups.

A Peterborough cannabis grower has been jailed after a police raid as part of a national crackdown

Det Con Igor Simonov said: "Criminal networks involved in drug dealing, immigration and money laundering will continue to be targeted by police and partner agencies.

"The links between serious crime and those involved in cannabis cultivation are clear, with the drugs trade fuelling gang violence as groups compete for territory and look to hunt out their opposition."

Cambridgeshire Constabulary joined Operation Mile, a national operation cracking down on organised crime

In June, police in Cambridgeshire located and searched 19 suspected cannabis grows across the county, seizing 3,555 cannabis plants worth more than £3m as well as more than £30,000 in cash - and £100,000 worth of growing equipment.