POLICE have said there has been a "significant reduction" in cannabis factories after a man admitted being involved in the cultivation of thousands of cannabis plants.

An investigation by Staffordshire Police's Serious And Organised Crime Unit under the Operation Nemesis banner identified Syed Abbas Ghalani as being involved in letting properties to an organised crime gang.

The properties were then used to cultivate cannabis on what a police spokesman termed "an industrial scale".

A total of 192 plants were found at an industrial unit in Commercial Street, Burslem; 113 in Castlefield Street, Shelton and 66 in a van parked outside; 679 at a unit in Pelham Court, Pelham Street, Hanley; 400 at the King's Arms in Hill Street, Stoke; and 2,107 at a unit in Keele Street, Tunstall.

Ghalani was charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis at all of the cannabis factories, bar those in Keele Street, in September.

Two months later he was further charged with conspiracy to produce cannabis at Keele Street.

And the 31-year-old, of Bathurst Street, Longton, pleaded guilty to the charges against him at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday.

Detective Inspector Mark Abbotts, of the Serious And Organised Crime Unit, said: "This guilty plea results from a targeted and thorough investigation which resulted in the seizure of thousands of cannabis plants destined for the streets of Stoke-on-Trent.

"Since Ghalani has been in custody, there has been a significant reduction in the number of cannabis factories.

"It also underlines Staffordshire Police's commitment to bringing to justice those concerned in the production and supply of illegal drugs."

Ghalani will be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court next month.

Operation Nemesis is Staffordshire Police's ongoing crackdown on drug dealers.