POLICE have raided more than 1,000 cannabis farms, seizing plants worth £130million and arresting some 1,000 suspects in a huge month-long crackdown.
Operation Mille, the largest of its kind, involved 11,000 officers from every force in England, Wales and Scotland throughout June.
Cops seized 200,000 cannabis plants, 15 to 20 guns, more than 40 other offensive weapons and £650,000 cash.
The swoops were aimed at smashing the hugely profitable enterprise for organised crime groups.
Steve Jupp, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said gangs involved in cannabis farms are linked to crimes such as Class A drug smuggling, modern slavery and violence.
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He added: “This operation not only disrupted a significant amount of criminal activity but intelligence gathered will also help inform future law enforcement.
“Cannabis-related crime is often thought to be low-level but there are clear patterns around exploitation and violence crime groups are using to protect their enterprises.”
Police also say cannabis farms create risks from fire, fumes and water damage.