08/05/2007 16:00:00
UK: Fourteen arrested in drug raids
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Fourteen people have been arrested as part of a major operation
targeting cannabis factories.
Four hundred officers took part in early morning raids on 20 houses in
London, Hampshire and Dorset.
Those arrested were taken to police stations in Hampshire and forensic
teams are searching the properties.
Police said they are trying to smash an organised crime syndicate
controlling cannabis factories in Hertfordshire Hampshire, London,
Norfolk and Sussex.
Police said the 14 people, who were arrested during raids in
Southampton, Fareham and Portsmouth, all in Hampshire, and Bournemouth
and Swanage, both in Dorset.
Det Insp Dave Powell said: "These arrests are part of a lengthy
investigation into an organised crime syndicate, producing cannabis on a
massive scale.
"The profits realised from this enterprise are vast."
In Southampton alone about 15,000 cannabis plants and 250 kilos of
herbal cannabis have been discovered and destroyed in the last 18
months, according to police.
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12539
Author:
BBC News via UKCIA
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