Police raid cannabis farms hidden in ‘plain sight’ on residential roads and encourage communities to report concerns

Cannabis plants with a street value worth more than £45 million have been seized by police as part of a national crackdown on cannabis cultivation involving organised crime groups.

Officers from Hampshire carried at eleven warrants and searched residential premises suspected of cannabis grows in Southampton, Havant, Bramley, Farnborough, Basingstoke and Portsmouth.

1,400 cannabis plants were seized as well as cash, phones, weapons, growing and lighting equipment as part of the pre-planned operation called Op Mille. 

Eleven arrests were made in connection to cannabis cultivating, drug supply, immigration and weapon related offences. Six men have been charged and remanded, three men bailed and detained by immigration to be deported, and one man NFA’d but detained to be deported. 

What is Op Mille?

Operation Mille stems from years of investigations and information focused on organised crime groups (OCGs) who are directly involved in the growing and selling of large quantities of so-called commercial cannabis on an industrial scale.

It is the third time police forces across the country have focused their efforts on the criminal networks involved in largescale cannabis production and sale, as part of a long term commitment to tackle this illicit activity.

This significant action by Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary, regional organised crime units (ROCUs) and partner organisations has aimed to disrupt these criminal networks’ revenue streams and wider activity linked to issues like illegal migration, violent crime and the exploitation of vulnerable people.

What did we find during our raids?

As well cannabis plants, 25 bins bags of cannabis and herbal cannabis; and cocaine were also seized in properties on residential streets alongside a samurai sword and an extendable baton, designer clothing, footwear and Rolex watches.

Four addresses raided by police did not have people in the premises which matches a pattern noticed by police of an increase in empty cannabis farms; whilst one further address in Basingstoke had been cleared out.

Where people were living, officers often found squalid living conditions and numerous hazards at the address, such as dangerous wiring into the property from mains electricity, as well as damage from things like fumes and watering. 

Those supporting this kind of activity includes landlords renting out spaces as well as tradespeople such as electricians, who help gangs set up and power their grows.

The operation was led by Detective Inspector Christian Reid-Milligan from the Force Intelligence Bureau, he said: “The costs to society from these criminal enterprises are far reaching. Fuelling serious violence and acquisitive crime.

“With the help of local residents we will tackle and dismantle them and make clear to criminal groups that our county is a hostile environment for them in which their trade is not welcome and will not be tolerated.

“Criminals are making millions from the exploitation of those who they traffic to act as gardeners and guards for these sites, which are invariably hazardous and powered by illegally diverted electricity. The work is risky and unpleasant for our personnel but we are committed to removing this threat from our communities and this effort will continue.”

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

Criminal networks involved in drug dealing, immigration and money laundering were targeted by police and partner agencies, who focussed resources to tackling large-scale cannabis cultivations.

The links between serious crime and those involved in cannabis cultivation are clear, with the drugs trade fuelling gang violence as groups compete for territory and look to hunt out their opposition.

11 arrests connected to Op Mille

• Two men, aged 21 and 29 from Southampton who were arrested have since been charged with offences including production of cannabis and immigration offences.
• A further two men aged 25, 20 from Southampton arrested for possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place have since been bailed, and released under investigation.
• A 40 year-old man was given a conditional caution; and two further men, aged 43, and 33, were given police bail. All three men from Southampton have been detained by immigration to serve a IS19 to deport.
• A 29 year-old man from Southampton, arrested for theft of a motor vehicle, interference and breach of bail, during a vehicle stop linked to one of the addresses, was released without further action and detained by immigration to serve a IS19 to deport.
• A 23 year-old man from Southampton arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation was given a 12-month prison sentence and to be deported after release.
• A 29 year-old man from Southampton, arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation was given police bail and is being held at Gatwick IRC Detention Centre.
• A 19 year-old man from Havant arrested on suspicion of cultivation and concerned in the supply of cannabis / Abstract Electricity and Immigration Offences, has since been charged and committed to Crown Court for trial.

Cannabis factories also present a very real local threat.

The size of criminal cannabis ‘factories’ means that damage is often caused to the properties themselves; the buildings can become dangerous as a result of fire risks, unlawful abstraction of electricity, fumes and water damage.

Anyone with information about a potential cannabis factory or drug dealing can contact police on 101. People can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

There are some key signs to spot a property that could be being used as a cannabis factory:

• 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 can 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