Police Seize £500,000 Worth of Cannabis in Greater Manchester Crime Crackdown

Greater Manchester Police confiscated more than 700 cannabis plants valued at £500,000 during a week-long blitz against organised crime, executing nine warrants that uncovered six cannabis farms across the region.

The raids formed part of Operation Mille, a national initiative launched in 2023 to combat Western Balkan organised crime groups involved in cannabis cultivation, money laundering and immigration offences. Four people were arrested and three charged and remanded in custody following the Greater Manchester operation.

Detective Inspector Abigail Thomas from GMP’s Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Team warned that organised crime gangs “blight our communities, causing fear and harm for residents with total disregard for others, interested solely in their own gain.”

“I hope our intensive action sends a clear message to them that we are watching, and we will continue to pursue them and disrupt their criminal activity to protect our communities,” Thomas said.

Police forces across England and Wales participated in the coordinated crackdown alongside Regional Organised Crime Units and partner agencies. Authorities noted that cannabis farms pose significant fire risks due to faulty electrical installations and generate anti-social behaviour with people visiting properties at all hours.

“We would like to let people know that we do take any intelligence submitted by the public seriously, and we will act on it - it plays an important role in our investigations,” Thomas added. “Please, let us know if you have any concerns about drug activity in your local area.”

---

Source: Read original article