Latest news with #FionaGaffney
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Police seize £1m worth of cannabis in raids
Drugs with an estimated street value of more than £1m have been seized in raids across the region, police have said. More than 2,500 cannabis plants, along with weapons including machetes, were seized in Hull, Scunthorpe and Grimsby between 17 and 23 February, Humberside Police said. The raids were part of a nationwide operation to tackle cannabis farms operated by organised crime groups. Nine of 10 people arrested have since been charged with a range of offences, including the cultivation of cannabis and abstracting electricity without authority, police said. Det Ch Insp Chris Swaby, leading the investigation, said tackling drug crime was a priority. "The community impact this type of offending has is the reason we will continue to do everything we can to disrupt these criminal networks... and safeguard vulnerable members of the community targeted by these gangs." Police raided 14 properties, including in Ellerburn Avenue and Beverley Road, Hull, Haven Avenue in Grimsby and Fox Street in Scunthorpe. The drugs seized were estimated to be valued at £1,342,500, officers said. The operation was coordinated by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, which covers the Humberside Police area, as well as West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. Det Supt Fiona Gaffney, the unit's deputy head, said officers had conducted a total of 58 warrants throughout the region, adding raids had "significantly disrupted" the distribution of cannabis. She said: "Commercial cannabis production is heavily connected to wider criminality. These people routinely use serious violence and the threat of it to protect their trade." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Humberside Police Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit
BBC News
07-03-2025
- BBC News
Humberside Police seize £1m of cannabis in Hull, Scunthorpe and Grimsby
Drugs with an estimated street value of more than £1m have been seized in raids across the region, police have than 2,500 cannabis plants, along with weapons including machetes, were seized in Hull, Scunthorpe and Grimsby between 17 and 23 February, Humberside Police raids were part of a nationwide operation to tackle cannabis farms operated by organised crime of 10 people arrested have since been charged with a range of offences, including the cultivation of cannabis and abstracting electricity without authority, police said. Det Ch Insp Chris Swaby, leading the investigation, said tackling drug crime was a priority."The community impact this type of offending has is the reason we will continue to do everything we can to disrupt these criminal networks... and safeguard vulnerable members of the community targeted by these gangs."Police raided 14 properties, including in Ellerburn Avenue and Beverley Road, Hull, Haven Avenue in Grimsby and Fox Street in drugs seized were estimated to be valued at £1,342,500, officers said. 'Significant disruption' The operation was coordinated by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, which covers the Humberside Police area, as well as West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and North Supt Fiona Gaffney, the unit's deputy head, said officers had conducted a total of 58 warrants throughout the region, adding raids had "significantly disrupted" the distribution of said: "Commercial cannabis production is heavily connected to wider criminality. These people routinely use serious violence and the threat of it to protect their trade."Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
07-03-2025
- BBC News
£8.7m worth of cannabis plants seized in Yorkshire and The Humber
Thousands of cannabis plants worth more than £8.7m have been seized in a week-long operation across Yorkshire and the region's four police forces located 35 active cannabis grows containing 8,716 action was part of national scheme Operation Mille and was coordinated by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU).It said officers executed 58 warrants and seized cocaine, five machetes, gas canisters and an axe along with the cannabis plants and 29 people were arrested. Det Supt Fiona Gaffney, who led the operation, said: "By focusing on this source of income for organised crime groups, we have significantly disrupted their activities and the wider distribution of cannabis within our communities."These people routinely use serious violence and the threat of it to protect their trade [and] exploit young and vulnerable people for their own profit." In West Yorkshire, the operation saw more than £1.6m worth of plants seized along with a BMW and £3,000 in cash from an address in Leeds."Organised crime groups are often connected to violence, exploitation, and anti-social behaviour which causes untold misery in our communities," said Det Supt Steve added that buildings used as cannabis grows can become dangerous due to fire risks, theft of electricity and water damage."Sharing information with the police at an early stage allows us to work closely together to tackle cannabis farms before they cause serious damage."We are committed to dismantling these operations and protecting our communities from the harm they cause." Listen to highlights from Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
