In the largest operation to date against illegal cannabis plantations in Britain, police seized nearly 200,000 plants and arrested more than 1,000 people.
In addition, dozens of weapons and £650,000 (almost 743,000 francs) in cash were seized, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said Thursday. These were “unprecedented” raids. The criminals are said to have used the proceeds of the hemp trade for other crimes such as human trafficking, money laundering and importing hard drugs.
“Cannabis-related crime is often classified as low level,” said NPCC officer Steve Jupp. “However, there are clear patterns of exploitation and violence organized crime gangs use to protect their operations.”
In June, a total of 11,000 police officers were deployed to England, Wales and Scotland for “Operation Mille”. The plantations were often housed in large industrial factories, but also in vacant residential buildings. The police warned of enormous dangers in such buildings, such as illegal power collection, fumes or water damage. (aeg/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
