Thirteen Busted in Massive South East Drug Raid
£100K Sports Car, Cash, and Hundreds of Cannabis Plants Seized in Organised Crime Crackdown
Major Drug Bust Rocks South East
Thirteen men have been arrested after a huge police operation tore through addresses across the South East. The swoop saw cops haul in a £100,000 sports car, around £40,000 in cash, and hundreds of cannabis plants as they smashed a suspected organised crime ring.
The raids struck homes in Ashford, Canterbury, Maidstone, Swale, plus locations in Bristol, Essex, Hertfordshire, and London on the morning of Wednesday 12 August 2020.
Massive Cannabis Farms Discovered
A massive cannabis factory with roughly 500 plants was uncovered in Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire. Meanwhile, two smaller grows with around 450 plants combined were found in Ashford.
Notable Arrests and Seizures
- A 24-year-old in Week Street, Maidstone, caught with £2,500 in cash.
- A 34-year-old at Victoria Crescent, Ashford, where cannabis crops were found.
- Another 34-year-old in Lucilla Avenue, Ashford.
- A 40-year-old on Essetford Road, Ashford, linked to more cannabis plants.
- An 18-year-old arrested at a hotel in Folkestone.
- A 31-year-old in Maple Street, Sheerness.
- Three men in their 20s and 30s at the Watton-at-Stone address.
- A 49-year-old man from London Colney, Hertfordshire.
- Two men caught on Canvey Island, Essex, plus a third who handed himself in.
- A 26-year-old in Romford, east London, where police seized £12,000 cash and an Audi R8 sports car believed bought with crime money.
Police Send a Clear Warning to Criminals
The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate led the investigation, backed by officers from Metropolitan Police and Hertfordshire Constabulary.
“Disrupting organised crime is a top priority for Kent Police,” said Detective Inspector Kris Eberlein.
“This bust targets not just drug dealers but the wider violent crime connected to the millions earned through cannabis sales.”
“The filthy cash from these illegal operations often fuels serious crimes like human trafficking and the trade in heroin and crack cocaine.”
“Kent Police are sending a strong message: we won’t tolerate the sale of illegal drugs.”
