Operation targets drugs supplied by organised crime

More than 2,200 cannabis plants were seized across the South West as part of operation Mille

Thousands of cannabis plants have been seized after an operation by police forces across the South West.

Officers from Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit were involved in Operation Mille.

The scheme, which included almost 40 arrests, was aimed at tackling the growing threat of organised crime groups and their involvement in the illegal drug supply chain.

Avon and Somerset Police acting Det Ch Insp, Matthew Lloyd, said the operation demonstrated what can be achieved "when police forces take a united stand".

"Organised crime knows no bounds or borders. It requires a robust response from our intelligence and operational teams to make the South West of England as hostile an environment as possible for drug criminals," he added.

The Operation included a search in Shepton Mallet, where 1,304 cannabis saplings were found in an industrial unit.

A 28-year-old man has now been charged and remanded in custody for the production of a class B drug.

Keys found during the raid led police to a flat in Yeovil where more cannabis plants, a quantity of cash and a weapon were recovered.

In Wellington, 424 cannabis plants were seized from a warehouse and three suspects, in their 20s, 30s and 40s, were arrested at the scene after being found hiding in squalid conditions in the attic.

All three have since been bailed, with two now referred to the National Referral Mechanism - a framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery and ensuring they receive appropriate support.

'Prey on vulnerable'

In Wiltshire, eight arrests were made and six warrants were carried out by Police.

The force said it had also recovered more than £12,000, 246 grams of cocaine and 101 grams of cannabis after targeting addresses of suspected drug dealers and suppliers.

Wiltshire Police DCC, Mark Cooper, said: "These arrests and seizures mean that a significant number of drugs have been removed from our towns and rural areas, as well as the disruption of criminal networks which prey on the vulnerable and bring so much misery to people.

He said the operation was a "great opportunity" for the force to work together with partners, colleagues and other police forces from across the region.