Drugs worth more than £300k seized in police raid

Officers in Suffolk have seized more than a thousand cannabis plants across the county

More than £300,000 worth of cannabis plants have been seized in raids as part of a national operation.

Suffolk Constabulary said it carried out six warrants across the county, seizing an estimated £306,000 worth of cannabis.

Seven people have been arrested, with five charged in connection with the finds, with more than 1,400 individual plants retrieved, as well as equipment.

The raids were part of a national operation targeting criminal networks involved in cannabis production and other serious crimes.

The force worked alongside the Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit and partner agencies to target criminal activity involved in cannabis production.

A total of 1,453 cannabis plants were found across the county by the force

A total of 1,453 cannabis plants were seized along with six kilos of packaged cannabis during the crackdown.

Det Insp James Cassedy said: "Officers from our countywide proactive teams have worked tirelessly during this period of intensification to successfully target and disrupt organised cannabis production in our county.

"Cannabis production is often just one strand of their criminal operations and often these groups are involved in Class A drug importation, modern slavery and wider violence and exploitation."

The force said it had gathered data that would help "future efforts in tackling organised crime groups".

Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, said: "I am very pleased to see this national, regional and local focus on the disruption of organised cannabis production in the county."