Police seized over £45m of cannabis in Hampshire. Eleven warrants were executed, leading to multiple arrests.
Officers executed eleven warrants in Hampshire, searching homes suspected of growing cannabis in towns including Basingstoke and Southampton. Police seized 1,400 cannabis plants as part of Operation Mille. They also found cash, phones, weapons, and growing equipment.
Eleven people were arrested for drug and weapon offenses, with immigration issues also playing a role. Six men were charged, three were bailed, and one man, who will be deported, was not prosecuted; all are Albanian.
Police seized bags of cannabis and cocaine, along with a samurai sword, designer clothes, and Rolex watches from homes on residential streets. In four raids, police found empty cannabis farms, matching a recent pattern.
Officers found poor living conditions and hazards such as dangerous wiring, fumes, and water damage where people lived. Police say landlords and electricians are complicit by renting spaces and illegally powering cannabis grows, respectively.
Two Southampton men, ages 21 and 29, were charged with cannabis production and immigration offenses. Two more Southampton men, 25 and 20 years old, were arrested with drugs and an offensive weapon and released under investigation.
A 20-year-old man received a caution, while three men, ages 40, 42, and 33, received police bail and were detained for deportation by immigration. A 29-year-old Southampton man, arrested for vehicle theft, was released and will be deported by immigration.
A 23-year-old Southampton man will be deported after a prison sentence for cannabis cultivation. A 29-year-old Southampton man arrested for cannabis cultivation is now at Gatwick Immigration Centre after receiving police bail.
A 19-year-old Havant man was charged with cultivation and supply and will face trial in Crown Court. Detective Inspector Reid-Milligan, who led the operation, said these crimes hurt society, fueling violence and theft.
He aims to make the county hostile to criminals who exploit trafficked people to guard risky, dangerous sites. The police are committed to removing this threat. Operation Mille was a large national effort with over a thousand warrants executed.
The goal police aimed to disrupt organized crime groups by targeting illegal revenue streams focusing resources on cannabis farms. These criminal networks have immigration involvement, and drug dealing fuels gang violence as gangs fight over territory and seek out rivals.
Cannabis farms often damage buildings, creating dangerous conditions with fire risks and illegal electricity, along with fumes and water damage. You can contact the police at 101 with information or Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555111.
Watch for frequent visitors at odd hours, blacked-out or fogged windows, and bright lights at night. Check for tampered electricity meters, new wiring, and high electric bills. Note any sweet or sickly smells and listen for fan noises.
Frequent deliveries, including heaters, lighting, excessive amounts of pots, chemicals, fertilizer, and compost, can also be a sign of illegal activity.