MORE than 1,000 cannabis farms have been raided by police across the United Kingdom (UK), with plants worth £130 million seized and around 1,000 suspects arrested.
This is after a month-long research and investigation by the police, cannabis farms are found to be the cash cow for organized crime gangs who are also involved in other offences such as money laundering, class a drug smuggling, and violence.
Throughout June, police located and searched large-scale cannabis grows to disrupt Organized Crime Groups (OCGs) and their illegal revenue streams.
Steve Jupp, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for serious and organized crime explained that organized networks involved in cannabis production are also directly linked to other serious criminality such as class a drug importation, modern slavery and wider violence and exploitation.
He then further explained that the operation has successfully disrupted a significant amount of criminal activity and that the intelligence gathered will help inform future law enforcement across the country.
Some of the data published showed that across the South East, the following results were achieved: 58 warrants carried out, 11,941 cannabis plants seized, 43 arrests made, 25 charges, £15,990 seized.
In surrey, 6 warrants were executed and 8 arrests were made in relation to cannabis cultivation and approximately 450 cannabis plants were seized.
Nearly 200,000 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of between £115-£130 million were seized, along with £636,000 in cash and 26 kilograms of cocaine.
Of those arrested, more than 450 were later charged.
National results from operation mille included:
1,013 warrants and searches, 182,422 plants seized, worth an estimated £115-£130 million, 967 arrested for offences including cannabis cultivation, money laundering and weapons offences, 20 firearms seized
£636,000 in cash seized, 26 kilograms of cocaine seized, with a potential street value of £1 million.
All 43 police forces across England and Wales, working with Regional Organized Crime Units (ROCUs) and partner agencies, dedicated resources to target the criminal networks involved in cannabis production and other serious criminality.
On the other hand, cannabis factories are also considered a local threat.
The buildings can cause unlawful abstraction of electricity, fumes, water damage and a risk to fire.
Moreover, the UK police asked the British public for cooperation and that anyone with information about a potential cannabis factory or drug dealing can contact their local force online or via 101.
The links between serious crime and those involved in cannabis cultivation are clear, with the drugs trade fueling gang violence as groups compete for territory and look to hunt out their opposition.
