More than 450 people have been charged by British police with involvement in cannabis plantations, as part of the “largest [operação] in England and Wales, authorities announced on Friday.
More than 182 thousand cannabis plants, worth between 134 and 150 million euros, were seized by the police during the operation carried out in June.
Unprecedented police operation across England and Wales against organized crime leads to 1,000 arrests and £130 million in cannabis seized: https://t.co/s5oQ0nYB9G @_ERSOU @EMSpecialOps @TarianROCU @NWROCU @SouthEastROCU @SWROCU pic.twitter.com/kpetdD4gKT
— National Council of Chiefs of Police (NPCC) (@PoliceChiefs) July 6, 2023
The investigation and action of the authorities took place across England and Wales and led to the arrest of 967 people, 450 of whom were formally charged with involvement in cannabis cultivation, money laundering and offenses related to gun control legislation , says a statement from the National Council of Chiefs of Police (NPCC).
“We know that the organized networks involved in cannabis production are also directly linked to a range of serious crimes, such as the importation of ‘Class A’ drugs and slavery,” said Steve Jupp, head of the NPCC for organized crime. . without specifying details about the practice of “slavery”.
“This operation has significantly disrupted criminal activity and the information gathered will aid future law enforcement operations across the country,” he added.
In London, the operation resulted in the dismantling of 65 “cannabis plantations”, the seizure of 7,250 plants, 60 kilograms of cannabis resin, cocaine, crack and five firearms, according to a press release later released by Scotland Yard.
48 people were arrested in the British capital, 27 of whom were charged with criminal activities related to cannabis cultivation.
Source: DN
