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Two men have been jailed for creating a cannabis factory in a former fancy dress shop.
In October last year, police discovered a cannabis farm growing 300 plants worth £160,000 on the third floor of the former U Need Us store in Portsmouth.
Hassan Dauti, 32, of Arundel Street, Portsmouth, and Emiljano Shehi, 40, of no fixed address, were arrested for cultivating cannabis and entering the UK without a permit.
The pair were jailed for 14 months at Portsmouth Crown Court after pleading guilty.
Daudi and Shehi, both Albanian citizens, will be handed over to the immigration authorities after serving their sentences.
A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said: “Once they have completed their sentence they will be taken into immigration custody.”
A police spokesman said officers were called to the address by Scottish Southern Electricity (SSE) staff who attempted to cut off supplies to the derelict shop and discovered the plants after smelling a strong smell of cannabis.
Chief Inspector Sam Warne said: “A cannabis factory of this size is unusual and could pose significant risks, including fires due to the way electricity is used. Ultimately, we stopped the distribution of these drugs.”
“The drug supply causes harm and suffering to our communities and we will continue to disrupt it and ensure our cities become a hostile environment for drug dealers to operate.”