Shotgun, cash, and over £1m in cannabis seized as police uproot OCGs in Bedfordshire

More than £1m worth of cannabis plants have been seized following a month-long operation that saw Bedfordshire Police conduct dawn raids across the county.

The targeted warrants unearthed six illegal cannabis grow sites in Bedford, Luton and Sharnbrook, with officers seizing a loaded shotgun, £5,400 in cash, 1712 cannabis plants and 8kg of processed cannabis ready for street supply.

Specialist officers carried out a valuation of just one harvest, estimating the illegal grows to be worth more than £1.1 million.

Activity took place throughout the month of February as the force participated in Operation Mille, a national operation targeting criminal networks involved in cannabis cultivation and money laundering.

It is the third time Bedfordshire Police have joined forces across the country in targeting criminal networks involved in commercial cannabis grows as part of a long-term commitment to challenge the illicit activity.

The early morning raids were executed following intelligence reports from the local community, with one property being identified after engineers attended the location to carry out routine work and noted a strong smell of cannabis.

Five people in total were arrested as part of the operation.

On Thursday 20 February, officers attended a property in Hartley Road, Luton following reports of suspicious behaviour. Intelligence detailed that the property had windows and blinds shut at all times of the day, with the glass pane of the door covered with a sheet.

Upon entry, officers identified a man who was later safeguarded as a suspected victim of human trafficking.

A search of the property revealed criminals had drilled a hole into the neighbouring property which also had its windows covered. Officers forced entry and found a large cannabis factory housing 215 plants.

Detective Sergeant Gary Hatton, who led the coordinated operation said: “These latest successes are a result of intricate and painstaking work by numerous teams across the force, and I would like to thank them for their efforts which have paid off immensely.

“By targeting cannabis cultivation, we’re cutting the issue off at the source. Without activity like this, these plants would be harvested, processed and disseminated in our community fuelling criminality, anti-social behaviour and the appalling violence we see when drug gangs feud over territory.

“In addition to the work of our officers, it’s the information received from members of the public that informs our activity. I would like to encourage the community to continue to tell us what you know and raise the alarm when things don’t seem right. With your support we’re ridding our community of illegal drugs and apprehending those fuelling it.”

Anyone with concerns about drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in their community can report it to the police online.

Alternatively, you can report information to Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.  

There are some key signs to spot a property 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 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.