Man jailed for part in cannabis factory in former casino in Northampton

A man has been jailed for his part in running a cannabis factory in a former casino in Northampton.

Mantas Piparas, 36, of no fixed address, was sentenced at a hearing at Northampton Crown Court on February 13th to three years and nine months in prison for his part in the cannabis factory. He had pleaded guilty to one count of producing a controlled drug of Class B (cannabis). 

Northamptonshire Police said that the factory was successfully uncovered by the Neighbourhood Policing Team, at the old Aspers casino in Commercial Street, in an operation conducted on October 30 2025. 

Officers used chainsaws to gain entry to the building, where they discovered a highly organised criminal operation containing more than 7,971 cannabis plants spread across three floors. They were later valued to be worth between £2.4 and £3.2 million, with the police force describing it as one of the biggest cannabis hauls seized in the county’s history.

Those responsible had gone to extreme lengths to keep law enforcement out, bricking over access points and reinforcing rooms with steel. The scale and sophistication of the operation highlight the wider harms linked to organised crime, including exploitation, violence and significant risks to the community. 

Chief Inspector Nic Davis-Lyons said, “This was a large scale, highly organised criminal operation, and this sentencing shows that those involved will be held to account. The lengths taken to secure the site and keep police out highlight just how determined these individuals were to continue their criminal activity. 

“The scale of this setup demonstrates the wider harm that organised crime brings into our communities, from exploitation to serious safety risks. I’m proud of the work carried out by our officers to bring down one of the biggest cannabis factories in the county’s history, and we will continue to disrupt those who profit from criminality.”