Three Arrested in Major Cannabis and Migrant Crime Bust in North Wales
Co-ordinated Raids Hit Prestatyn and Beyond
Three men have been arrested in a crackdown on a crime gang involved in cannabis cultivation and money laundering. The National Crime Agency swooped on addresses in Prestatyn, North Wales, yesterday, with support from North Wales Police and Cheshire Police.
A man in his fifties was detained at a Prestatyn home, while a second suspect, aged in his sixties, was arrested at another nearby address. Meanwhile, a 28-year-old Albanian national was stopped by Cheshire Police on the M6 motorway.
Crime Group Linked to Balkan Organised Crime
Officials believe the trio are part of a Western Balkans organised crime group (OCG) that smuggles Albanian nationals into the UK. Once here, migrants are forced to work in illegal cannabis farms across the north of England and North Wales.
Earlier in the investigation, three cannabis farms were discovered in Blackpool, Lancashire; Leigh, Greater Manchester; and Prestatyn, with Albanian migrants found working at each site.
Searches Uncover Boats, Drugs, and Cash
During the raids, officers seized two rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), large sums of cash, crack cocaine, cannabis, and drug paraphernalia linked to the cannabis farms.
Police Appeal for More Suspects
NCA operations manager Julie Booker said: “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.”
“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.”
The NCA is urgently seeking information on two more suspects: Jeton Memia, 29, linked to Manchester and Southend, and Trevor Williams, 61, from Ruthin, North Wales.
Anyone with info should contact the NCA Control Centre on 0370 496 7622 or speak anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
