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Scottish Sun
12-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
How flood of super-strength cannabis is hitting Britain streets as its links to terrifying crime wave are revealed
Former addict reveals how he blames smoking cannabis as a teenager for his life of crime CANNABIS CRIMEBOMB How flood of super-strength cannabis is hitting Britain streets as its links to terrifying crime wave are revealed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE amount of super-strength cannabis being smuggled in from abroad has escalated to a record high and is behind a terrifying crime wave sweeping Britain, the Sun on Sunday can reveal. More cannabis than any other drug was detected coming into the country by Border Force last year — with the black market in the illegal substance estimated to be worth £2.6billion. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 More cannabis than any other drug was detected coming into the country by Border Force last year Credit: Getty - Contributor 4 Daniel Anjorin was murdered in Hainault, Essex, while his killer was in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis Credit: PA 4 Drug-fuelled killer Marcus Monzo struck after taking cannabis Credit: PA Border officials seized 85 tonnes of herbal marijuana — up 73 per cent on the previous year — and around 480,000 plants and 416 tonnes of cannabis resin, up 183 per cent on 2023 figures. But despite the massive seizures, illegal drugs are still making their way on to the streets. Now we can reveal a new report has found a direct link between cannabis use and an 'increased risk of perpetration of physical violence, including aggravated assault, sexual aggression, fighting and robbery'. Criminology expert Dr Simon Harding, who helped compile the University of West London report, told the Sun on Sunday: 'The links between violence and cannabis are going under the radar. 'When there are calls for the decriminalisation or legalisation of cannabis, some are thinking of the cannabis of 30 or 40 years ago, which caused fits of giggles. Sword attack 'But what we're dealing with now is more like a Frankenstein genetically modified version of cannabis, with very high THC levels, which makes people very paranoid.' Our revelations come after Sir Andy Marsh, head of the College of Policing, demanded earlier this month that officers crack down on cannabis use. He said the smell of the plant-based drug, which is also known as marijuana or weed, made him 'feel unsafe' and 'is a sign of crime and disorder'. Dr Harding, who is also a regular expert witness at major drug trials, said the new strong cannabis being produced is leading to cases of psychosis. He cited the trial of Marcus Monzo, 37, who last month was found guilty of the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin in Hainault, Essex, while in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis. Smugglers hiding cannabis in luggage at record rates - but are barely trying to hide it Dr Harding said: 'We only have to point to this sword attack. 'Psychosis is not going to happen to everybody, but if you are prone to that and there may be underlying factors, it can be pretty serious stuff and the psychiatric facilities in the UK are full of people suffering from cannabis psychosis.' The influx of cannabis reaching our shores is, in part, fuelled by other countries legalising its use. Of the 173 cannabis smuggling cases already dealt with by our courts this year, the majority came from Thailand. Cannabis was legalised there three years ago, but has become so rife and problematic that last month the government there imposed new rules to try to tackle the issue. Drug lords in Canada, where cannabis is legal, and the US, where some states have followed suit, are also major exporters. When other parts of the world decriminalise, it has a knock-on effect in other places Dr Harding Last year there were 75 arrests related to cannabis originating from Canada, and 47 from the US, according to the National Crime Agency. Dr Harding says the marketing of different drug strains from abroad is increasingly sophisticated. Users are being offered an 'a la carte menu' with up to 50 choices. He said: 'The menus are available with different prices and I see it in every drug case I work on. People import it from parts of America and Thailand where it has been decriminalised. 'When other parts of the world decriminalise, it has a knock-on effect in other places.' Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the proportion of robberies taking place while offenders are under the influence of drugs was at 34 per cent in 2024 — up from 25 per cent in 2014. There has also been a worrying rise in children using THC or synthetic cannabis in vapes, with a number of schools issuing warnings to parents. Dr Harding says his report, which was funded by the London Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, found the use of cannabis among youngsters is a terrifying 'gateway to other crime and to violence'. Youths preyed upon He said: 'This is something that goes under most people's radar. It was a big finding in my report.' It is also one of the major ways that youths are preyed upon. He explained: 'The biggest way to recruit for county lines gangs is to get a boy into debt. 'The dealer sells them a little bit of weed on tick for a few weeks. The kids think they have made a friend and they get weed for free. 'By the end of the month the boy has maybe smoked £50 of cannabis, then that dealer comes back and says the debt is £300 and if they don't pay they will be in trouble. 'They have to work it off — and that means shifting or transporting drugs for the dealers.' All you do is smell cannabis on the streets here now. It's terrible and it's out of control New York State Senator Mario Mattera But earlier this month, London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan called for the possession of 'small quantities of natural cannabis' to be decriminalised. He said it would address concerns that UK drug laws were harming relations between the police and ethnic communities. But in New York, where marijuana was legalised in March 2021, State Senator Mario Mattera warned such a move would be a disaster for our country. He told the Sun on Sunday: 'All you do is smell cannabis on the streets here now. It's terrible and it's out of control. 'We have created a monster, and more people are on drugs. 'The UK needs to look at the US states where the black market is running rampant. 'Look at the crime. Is that what you want? 'What has happened here should be a warning.' 'WEED AT 13 RUINED MY LIFE' 4 Paul Hannaford had been stabbed seven times and served 15 prison sentences before the age of 36 Credit: SWNS A FORMER addict blames smoking cannabis as a teenager for his life of crime. Paul Hannaford, now 55, used to fund his £500-a-day heroin and crack habit through shoplifting and drug dealing. He had been stabbed seven times and served 15 prison sentences before the age of 36. But Paul was a bright child with a talent for football growing up in Romford, East London. It all changed after he was introduced to 'weed' at 13. Within six months, he was smoking it every day. He told The Sun on Sunday: 'If I hadn't tried cannabis, I wouldn't have committed crimes. 'I started with weed, but it made me lazy and affected my mental health. I got chucked out of three schools in one year. 'In every city I go to these days, addiction is getting worse and a lot of it starts off with cannabis. 'Nobody's first drug is crack cocaine or heroin. Weed was the gateway drug.' Now clean for 18 years, Paul gives talks in schools and prisons about the dangers of drugs. He said: 'If fewer people smoked cannabis there would be less crime and fewer mental health issues.'
The Irish Sun
12-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
How flood of super-strength cannabis is hitting Britain streets as its links to terrifying crime wave are revealed
THE amount of super-strength cannabis being smuggled in from abroad has escalated to a record high and is behind a terrifying crime wave sweeping Britain, the Sun on Sunday can reveal. More cannabis than any other drug was detected coming into the country by Border Force last year — with the black market in the illegal substance estimated to be worth £2.6billion. 4 More cannabis than any other drug was detected coming into the country by Border Force last year Credit: Getty - Contributor 4 Daniel Anjorin was murdered in Hainault, Essex, while his killer was in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis Credit: PA 4 Drug-fuelled killer Marcus Monzo struck after taking cannabis Credit: PA Border officials seized 85 tonnes of herbal marijuana — up 73 per cent on the previous year — and around 480,000 plants and 416 tonnes of cannabis resin, up 183 per cent on 2023 figures. But despite the massive seizures, illegal drugs are still making their way on to the streets. Now we can reveal a new report has found a direct link between cannabis use and an 'increased risk of perpetration of physical violence, including aggravated assault, sexual aggression, fighting and robbery'. Criminology expert Dr Simon Harding, who helped compile the University of West London report, told the Sun on Sunday: 'The links between violence and cannabis are going under the radar. READ MORE ON CANNABIS 'When there are calls for the decriminalisation or legalisation of cannabis, some are thinking of the cannabis of 30 or 40 years ago, which caused fits of giggles. Sword attack 'But what we're dealing with now is more like a Frankenstein genetically modified version of cannabis, with very high THC levels, which makes people very paranoid.' Our revelations come after Sir Andy Marsh, head of the College of Policing, demanded earlier this month that officers crack down on cannabis use. He said the smell of the plant-based drug, which is also known as marijuana or weed, made him 'feel unsafe' and 'is a sign of crime and disorder'. Most read in The Sun Dr Harding, who is also a regular expert witness at major drug trials, said the new strong cannabis being produced is leading to cases of psychosis. He cited the trial of Smugglers hiding cannabis in luggage at record rates - but are barely trying to hide it Dr Harding said: 'We only have to point to this sword attack. 'Psychosis is not going to happen to everybody, but if you are prone to that and there may be underlying factors, it can be pretty serious stuff and the psychiatric facilities in the UK are full of people suffering from cannabis The influx of cannabis reaching our shores is, in part, fuelled by other countries legalising its use. Of the 173 cannabis smuggling cases already dealt with by our courts this year, the majority came from Thailand. Cannabis was legalised there three years ago, but has become so rife and problematic that last month the government there imposed new rules to try to tackle the issue. Drug lords in Canada, where cannabis is legal, and the US, where some states have followed suit, are also major exporters. When other parts of the world decriminalise, it has a knock-on effect in other places Dr Harding Last year there were 75 arrests related to cannabis originating from Canada, and 47 from the US, according to the National Crime Agency. Dr Harding says the marketing of different drug strains from abroad is increasingly sophisticated. Users are being offered an 'a la carte menu' with up to 50 choices. He said: 'The menus are available with different prices and I see it in every drug case I work on. People import it from parts of America and Thailand where it has been decriminalised. 'When other parts of the world decriminalise, it has a knock-on effect in other places.' Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the proportion of robberies taking place while offenders are under the influence of drugs was at 34 per cent in 2024 — up from 25 per cent in 2014. There has also been a worrying rise in children using THC or synthetic cannabis in vapes, with a number of schools issuing warnings to parents. Dr Harding says his report, which was funded by the London Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, found the use of cannabis among youngsters is a terrifying 'gateway to other crime and to violence'. Youths preyed upon He said: 'This is something that goes under most people's radar. It was a big finding in my report.' It is also one of the major ways that youths are preyed upon. He explained: 'The biggest way to recruit for county lines gangs is to get a boy into debt. 'The dealer sells them a little bit of weed on tick for a few weeks. The kids think they have made a friend and they get weed for free. 'By the end of the month the boy has maybe smoked £50 of cannabis, then that dealer comes back and says the debt is £300 and if they don't pay they will be in trouble. 'They have to work it off — and that means shifting or transporting drugs for the dealers.' All you do is smell cannabis on the streets here now. It's terrible and it's out of control New York State Senator Mario Mattera But earlier this month, London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan called for the possession of 'small quantities of natural cannabis' to be decriminalised. He said it would address concerns that UK drug laws were harming relations between the police and ethnic communities. But in New York, where marijuana was legalised in March 2021, State Senator Mario Mattera warned such a move would be a disaster for our country. He told the Sun on Sunday: 'All you do is smell cannabis on the streets here now. It's terrible and it's out of control. 'We have created a monster, and more people are on drugs. 'The UK needs to look at the US states where the black market is running rampant. 'Look at the crime. Is that what you want? 'What has happened here should be a warning.' 'WEED AT 13 RUINED MY LIFE' 4 Paul Hannaford had been stabbed seven times and served 15 prison sentences before the age of 36 Credit: SWNS A FORMER addict blames smoking cannabis as a teenager for his life of crime. Paul Hannaford, now 55, used to fund his £500-a-day heroin and crack habit through shoplifting and drug dealing. He had been stabbed seven times and served 15 prison sentences before the age of 36. But Paul was a bright child with a talent for football growing up in Romford, East London. It all changed after he was introduced to 'weed' at 13. Within six months, he was smoking it every day. He told The Sun on Sunday: 'If I hadn't tried cannabis, I wouldn't have committed crimes. 'I started with weed, but it made me lazy and affected my mental health. I got chucked out of three schools in one year. 'In every city I go to these days, addiction is getting worse and a lot of it starts off with cannabis. 'Nobody's first drug is crack cocaine or heroin. Weed was the gateway drug.' Now clean for 18 years, Paul gives talks in schools and prisons about the dangers of drugs. He said: 'If fewer people smoked cannabis there would be less crime and fewer mental health issues.'
The Guardian
28-06-2025
- The Guardian
Man jailed for at least 40 years for sword murder of London boy Daniel Anjorin
A man has been jailed for at least 40 years for the 'wicked' murder of the schoolboy Daniel Anjorin during a 20-minute rampage in east London. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, fatally slashed Daniel with a samurai sword minutes after the 14-year-old left his home in Hainault on 30 April last year. In a televised sentencing, Mr Justice Bennathan jailed Monzo for life with a minimum term of 40 years for murder, and for attacking three other members of the public and two police officers. The judge described a 'peaceful, busy scene' being 'devastated as members of the public were attacked, police officers were gravely injured, a couple were terrified in their own home, and a clever, talented, much-loved young boy was killed by a savage blow with a sword. You, Marcos Arduini Monzo, did all of that.' Earlier, Daniel's father, Ebenezer Anjorin, had condemned Monzo's 'wicked' actions and described losing his son as his 'worst nightmare'. Speaking publicly about it for the first time, Anjorin described the moment he saw his fatally injured son lying in the street. 'I did not realise that it was Daniel at first but, as I got closer, I recognised the school sports clothes and saw his face. He was lying in a pool of blood and had a deep cut to his face running from the side of his mouth to the back of his neck. He was motionless. I knew at once that he was dead, but I reached down, called his name and held his head.' After a few minutes, he said, he called Daniel's mother, who screamed and cried when she arrived home and saw paramedics trying to resuscitate her son, who died later in hospital. Anjorin said he could not begin to describe the 'pain and anguish' the family felt at losing Daniel, who was academically gifted and enjoyed sports and music. 'We will not see him get married or have children. All the normal things parents hope for their children. All these hopes and aspirations have been cruelly snatched away from us through the wicked actions of Marcus Monzo. It has been the worst nightmare experience of our lives. To have to go through the pain of losing a child in such a cruel and savage way. No family should have to go through this.' In his sentencing, Bennathan said the police officers involved 'behaved with exemplary courage and put their lives on the line to protect the public they served'. He also paid tribute to the 'calm dignified' manner of Daniel's relatives throughout the trial, and said no sentence would 'begin to temper' their grief. Speaking outside court afterwards, the boy's parents, Grace and Ebenezer, agreed, saying: 'No verdict or sentence can bring back our son Daniel, who we loved so dearly, but we are grateful that justice has been served.' They added: 'His life had so much potential ahead. He was gifted academically, was kind and had a generous spirit that touched everyone who knew him … We honour Daniel's memory not in the shadow of this tragedy but through the love and happiness that he brought to us and all those who knew him.' The court had heard Monzo drove his van into Donato Iwule, who ran away screaming as the attacker got out of the vehicle and came at him with a sword. Monzo then attacked Daniel from behind, causing unsurvivable neck injuries. When PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield tried to detain Monzo, he repeatedly struck her with 'savage' blows, causing severe injuries. He burst into the home of Henry De Los Rios Polania and Sindy Arias, who had been asleep with their young child nearby. Insp Moloy Campbell cornered Monzo in a car park and ran in with his baton raised but was slashed on the hand. Officers eventually detained the delivery driver, who had become psychotic after taking cannabis. Afterwards, Monzo, who had viewed far-right and misogynistic content on social media, claimed to have an alternate persona of a 'professional assassin'. A jury in his Old Bailey trial found Monzo guilty of Daniel's murder, and the attempted murder of Iwule, Arias and Mechem-Whitfield. He was convicted of wounding De Los Rios Polania and Campbell with intent. He was also convicted of aggravated burglary and having an article with a blade or point. He admitted possessing the samurai sword used to kill Daniel and a katana sword found in his van.
The Independent
27-06-2025
- The Independent
Daniel Anjorin's parents describe heartbreak after sword killer jailed for life
The father of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin has spoken of his heartbreak after the schoolboy's killer was jailed for at least 40 years. Marcus Monzo, 37, was sentenced at the Old Bailey after embarking on a 20-minute rampage through Hainault, east London, on April 30 last year. He was also convicted of attacking three more members of the public and two police officers. Speaking outside court after the sentencing on Friday, Dr Ebenezer Anjorin said it marked the end of a 'painful and deeply traumatic chapter' and paid tribute to their son's 'generous spirit'. Reading a statement alongside Daniel's mother, Grace, he said: 'This has been a painful and deeply traumatic chapter in our lives. 'No verdict or sentence can bring back our son Daniel, who we loved so dearly, but we are grateful that justice has been served. 'Daniel was taken from us in a way that no family should ever have to endure. 'His life had so much potential ahead. 'He was gifted academically, was kind and had a generous spirit that touched everyone who knew him. 'We carry that light with us, even in this dark time. 'We want to express our deepest thanks to the police, prosecution team, and all those who worked tirelessly to seek the truth. 'Your dedication has meant more than words can fully convey. 'To everyone who has supported us through this ordeal, friends, family, our church, our workplaces, our children's schools and even strangers, thank you. 'Your love and support has been a lifeline. 'We honour Daniel's memory, not in the shadow of this tragedy but through the love and happiness that he brought to us and all those who knew him. 'Thank you.'
The Independent
27-06-2025
- The Independent
Daniel Anjorin's father describes ‘painful and traumatic chapter' after son's killer jailed for life
The family of a boy murdered with a samurai sword in an unprovoked attack in east London last year has described losing their son as a 'painful and deeply traumatic chapter.' Daniel Anjorin, 14, was walking to school in his PE kit when he was ambushed by Marcus Arduini Monzo during a 20-minute rampage in Hainault. Monzo, 37, was convicted on Wednesday (25 June) of Daniel's murder, three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary, and possessing a bladed article. He was sentenced to life on Friday. Daniel's father, Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, said: 'Daniel was taken from us in a way that no family should ever have to endure.' 'His life had so much potential ahead,' he added.
