Court success over seizing 7,971 cannabis plants in Aspers casino operation

A 36-year-old man was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on February 13, after he pleaded guilty to one count of producing a controlled drug of Class B (cannabis). 

Mantas Piparas, of no fixed address, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for his part in the cannabis factory that was successfully uncovered by the Neighbourhood Policing Team, at the old Aspers casino in Commercial Street, 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 over three floors. They were later valued to be worth between £2.4 and £3.2 million. 

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."