Three Arrested in Major Cannabis and Migrant Crime Bust in North Wales
Three men have been snapped up in a high-profile drug and migrant crime crackdown across North Wales and Cheshire. The National Crime Agency (NCA) swooped on two homes in Prestatyn yesterday, detaining a man in his 50s and another in his 60s. A third suspect, a 28-year-old Albanian, was nabbed on the M6 by Cheshire Police.
Cannabis Farms and Money Laundering Link
The trio face charges over conspiracy to grow and distribute cannabis, alongside money laundering allegations. Investigators say the gang is tied to a Western Balkans organised crime group (OCG) that smuggles Albanian nationals into the UK. These migrants are then forced to toil in illegal cannabis farms.
Earlier searches uncovered three such farms staffed by Albanian workers, located in Blackpool, Leigh near Manchester, and Prestatyn.
Manhunt Underway for Two Suspects
The NCA is now hunting for Albanian national Jeton Memia, 29, connected to Manchester and Southend, plus Trevor Williams, 61, from Ruthin, North Wales. Officers found two rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), bags of cash, crack cocaine, cannabis, and drug paraphernalia during the operation.
“This is a complex investigation into organised crime groups that have been running cannabis farms across the country and facilitating illegal migrants into the UK to work in them,” said NCA operations manager Julie Booker.
“We are appealing for information to help trace two men who we want to speak to as part of our investigation. We believe these arrests will have significantly disrupted the crime groups and their ability to operate.”
How to Help
If you have any information, contact the NCA Control Centre on 0370 496 7622, or provide tips anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
