£1.7m worth of cannabis has been seized by Cambridgeshire police and seven arrests made, during a weeklong series of raids. It included raids on 3 properties in Orange Grove, Wisbech, and Eastfield Road, Peterborough.
Warrants were carried out at the properties on Orange Grove in Wisbech on Wednesday 19 February. 302 plants were seized, worth an estimated £60,000. One person was arrested, charged and remanded.
Operation Mille is a nationwide operation which sees police forces across the country work together to tackle the trade in cannabis and the associated violent crime and exploitation.
In Cambridgeshire last month, the force, with the support of Norfolk and Lincolnshire Police, carried out 12 raids, made seven arrests and uncovered 10 cannabis factories containing plants with a total street value of more than £1.7m.
The raids took place last month (17-21 February), at properties in Peterborough and Wisbech as well as Holbeach and Boston in Lincolnshire.
Seven people were arrested and have since been charged in connection with production of cannabis and will appear at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court on 20 March.
Director of Intelligence, Detective Superintendent Chris Treadwell, from the Intelligence and Specialist Crime Department, said: “Cambridgeshire Constabulary are working daily to disrupt the activity of these criminal gangs and bring offenders to justice. We’re hitting criminal gangs where it hurts the most, in their pockets.
“We will continue to work with our communities who play a vital part in helping us tackle the production of cannabis by reporting their concerns. Local people are our eyes and ears in our communities and the information they provide is key. Please continue to be vigilant and report any concerns to us.”
Details of the arrests/charges are:
Eastfield Road, Peterborough:
Enkel Plaku, 20, of Eastfield Road, Peterborough, has been charged with production of cannabis.
Albert Street, Holbeach:
Lubian Arapi, 28, of no fixed address, has been charged with production of cannabis and being concerned in the production of cannabis.
Neritan Semanjaku, 44, of no fixed address, has been charged with production of cannabis.
Waterhouse Way, Peterborough:
Lindjet Salillari, 30, of no fixed address, has been charged with production of cannabis and being concerned in the production of cannabis.
Orange Grove, Wisbech:
Gentjan Agaliu, 42, of Brook Road, Bristol, has been charged with production of cannabis.
Parsons Drove, Boston:
Leonard Zyka, 49, of Parsons Drove, Boston, has been charged with production of cannabis.
Wyberton West Road, Boston:
Azis Beshiri, 28, of no fixed address, has been charged with production of cannabis.
To report concerns around the production of cannabis or exploitation of vulnerable people, visit www.cambs.police.uk or call 101. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
More than £4.5million of cannabis has been seized by officers in Norfolk as part of the same operation targeting organised crime groups.
Norfolk Constabulary worked alongside the Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) and partner agencies to target the criminal networks involved in cannabis production and other serious criminality.
In Norfolk a total of nine warrants were executed, with almost 5,000 plants seized and 10 people arrested. These included:
- 332 cannabis plants, with an estimated street value of £66,000, were seized following a warrant in Wellesley Road, Great Yarmouth on Monday 24 January. Two people were arrested, charged and remanded in custody.
- 1,291 cannabis plants, with an estimated street value of £250,000 were seized following a warrant in Southtown Road in Great Yarmouth on Thursday 6 February. Two people were arrested, charged and remanded in custody.
- 154 kilograms of dried cannabis and 1,757 cannabis plants were seized following a warrant in West Carr Road Industrial Estate in Great Ellingham on Tuesday 18 February. The items seized had an estimated street value of £4 million. Two people were arrested, charged and remanded in custody.
- Warrants were carried out at three properties on Orange Grove in Wisbech on Wednesday 19 February. 302 plants were seized, worth an estimated £60,000. One person was arrested, charged and remanded.
- 302 plants were seized from a property in St Augustines Street, Norwich on Thursday 20 February. The plants were worth an estimated street value of £60,000. One person was arrested, charged and remanded.
- Two warrants were carried out on different properties in Hockham Street in King’s Lynn. The first on Wednesday 12 February and the second on Thursday 20 February. 110 plants were seized between the two properties, worth an estimated £20,000. One person was arrested on 20 February and cautioned.
- 770 cannabis plants, worth an estimated street value of £154,000, were seized in Harleston Road, Rushall on Thursday 20 February. One person was arrested and released without charge.
- 55 plants, worth an estimated street value of £10,000, were seized following a warrant in Old Sunway in King’s Lynn on Sunday 23 February 2025.
Detective Superintendent Matt Barden, the operation lead in Norfolk, said: “Not only has this operation prevented a huge amount of drugs from entering the supply chain in Norfolk, it has also disrupted the viability of organised criminal groups in the county.
“The tireless work put in by our officers and ERSOU to plan and execute this intensification period has also resulted in further intelligence which will continue to help focus our future efforts.
“Large scale cannabis production generates significant money, which Organised Crime Groups can use to fund other illegal activity. We work year-round to disrupt drugs networks and stop these criminal enterprises, to safeguarding those at the greatest risk of harm.
Do you know the signs of a cannabis grow?
- Covered up windows
- Excessive security measures
- Lots of condensation on windows, especially in the summer months
- Lots of visitors often at unsociable hours
- Residents only visiting address a couple of times a week
- Excessive amounts of plant growing equipment
- Lots of cables and wiring
- Excessive electricity bills (for landlords)
- No snow or frost covered roofs
- Bright lights day and night
- Buzz of ventilation
- Vulnerable adults
