Dozens arrested in the East as police uncover millions of pounds worth of cannabis farms

  • Watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Hannah Pettifer

Cannabis plants worth millions of pounds have been seized by police as part of a month-long mass scale crackdown.

172 people were arrested and almost 28,000 cannabis plants worth £14 million have been seized by police across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent.

In Cambridgeshire alone, 3,555 cannabis plants worth around £3 million were found in Peterborough, Chatteris, Wisbech and St Neots.

Four men from Peterborough, were arrested and have since been charged.

In Bedfordshire, officers carried out 16 search warrants, resulting in 25 people arrested and cannabis plants worth more than £2 million seized.

In Essex more than 50 people have been arrested after police also uncovered a series of cannabis farms worth nearly £3 million.

Operation Mille was the largest national operation of its kind and saw police across England and Wales co-ordinate more than a 1,000 search warrants in June, aimed at unearthing and disrupting organised crime groups (OCGs) and their illegal revenue streams.

A crossbow was among the weapons found in Essex Credit: Essex Police

Det Chief Supt Lucy Morris from Essex Police said: "This operation has struck a significant blow to the organised sale of cannabis in Essex.

"The results seen here, and across the country, have caused significant disruption to these networks, not only by removing streams of illicit income, but also highlighting a pattern of exploitation and other dangerous criminal activity.

"That means they’re no longer able to pollute your community with drugs, pose a danger to your friends or family, or fuel crime in your neighbourhood.

One of the cannabis farms uncovered by Essex Police Credit: Essex Police

"Intelligence gathered through this enforcement will help us and our partners better understand how these networks operate, meaning we are better placed than ever to target those involved."

Det Chief Supt Morris added that the sale of cannabis goes hand-in-hand with violence and exploitation:

She said: "The growing and selling of cannabis on an industrial scale is intrinsically linked to other criminal and gang activities, including violence on our streets and the exploitation of young and vulnerable people."

A gun that was seized as part of the police operation in Essex Credit: Essex police

"We know it fuels other criminal activity, like county lines and other drug trafficking, modern slavery, and human trafficking.

"And the sheer size of some cannabis factories means they actually damage the properties they’re in, leading them to become dangerous as a fire risk, and because of the stealing of electricity from neighbours, fumes and water damage."

Police forces across the East have also released a list of signs that people can look out for that may indicate that a building has been used for a cannabis factory.

They include:

• Frequent visitors to a property at unsocial hours throughout the day and night;

• Blacked out windows or condensation on the windows, even when it is not cold outside.

• Bright lights in rooms throughout the night.

• Electricity meters being tampered with/altered and new cabling, sometimes leading to street lighting. High electricity bills could also be an indicator

• A powerful, distinctive, sweet, sickly aroma and noise from fans.

• Lots of work or deliveries of equipment to an address, particularly those associated with growing plants indoors without soil such as heaters and lighting.

• An excessive amount of plant pots, chemicals, fertilisers, and compost.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know