Police Bust Cannabis Gang in North Wales and Cheshire
Three men have been arrested in a major crackdown on a cannabis-growing operation linked to a ruthless organised crime group. National Crime Agency (NCA) officers swooped on addresses in Prestatyn, North Wales, and made arrests yesterday.
Three Arrested in Coordinated Raids
- A man in his 50s was arrested at a Prestatyn property by the NCA.
- A second man, aged in his 60s, was arrested at another Prestatyn address with support from North Wales Police.
- A 28-year-old Albanian national was stopped and arrested by Cheshire Police on the M6 motorway.
All three face suspicion of conspiring to cultivate and supply cannabis, alongside money laundering charges.
Gang Linked to Albanian Migrant Exploitation
The crime ring is believed tied to a Western Balkans organised crime group (OCG) that smuggles Albanian nationals illegally into the UK. Once here, migrants are forced to work on cannabis farms.
Investigators had previously uncovered three such farms staffed by Albanian workers. These were located in Blackpool, Lancashire; Leigh, Greater Manchester; and Prestatyn.
Officers Seek Two More Men
The NCA is hunting Albanian national Jeton Memia, 29, linked to Manchester and Southend in Essex. They are also searching for Trevor Williams, 61, from Ruthin, North Wales.
During the raids, authorities seized two rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), large sums of cash, crack cocaine, cannabis, and related drug paraphernalia.
“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 anonymously tip off Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
