Firearm seized and £200k+ cash recovered in human trafficking swoop
Police uncovered a suspected firearm, huge piles of cash, and drugs during a major raid in Barnet, safeguarding two potential human trafficking victims in the process.
Major raid uncovers drugs, cash, and trafficking victims
On Tuesday, 21 July, the Met’s Safer Neighbourhoods team stormed a Barnet property. Their search revealed around £60,000 in cash, 1kg of cannabis, early-stage cannabis plants, and a suspected firearm.
Inside, officers also found two individuals believed to be victims of human trafficking. Both have since been taken to a safe location for protection.
Six arrested over burglary, drugs, and trafficking
- Five suspects – four men and one woman in their mid-20s to 30s – arrested on suspicion of burglary, cannabis cultivation, firearm possession, and UK trafficking offences.
- Another man in his 30s was arrested at a separate Barnet address on burglary and Proceeds of Crime Act offences, where £100,000 was reclaimed.
- Additional financial investigations led to another £69,000 being seized.
One man has been released under investigation, while the remaining five suspects were granted bail.
Detective vows crackdown on traffickers
“Whilst I am pleased that we recovered a suspected firearm, a vast quantity of cash, and drugs – the main success of this operation is that we have been able to recover and safeguard two vulnerable people who we believe are victims of human trafficking,” said Detective Inspector Laura Hillier.
“They have now been entered into the National Referral Mechanism. We actively seek to prosecute anyone who thinks they can traffic another human being as if they were a commodity.”
This police swoop sends a clear message – traffickers and criminals beware, Met police are out in force to smash your operations and protect the vulnerable.
