Operation Mille week: 48,328 cannabis plants seized across England and Wales
In the third Operation Mille intensification week ending 21 February 2025, police across England and Wales executed 368 warrants, seized 48,328 cannabis plants that forces valued at about GBP 48.3 million, arrested 242 people and recovered 65 weapons while referring 19 people as possible modern-slavery victims.
During the week of 17–21 February 2025, forces across England and Wales took part in the third
Operation Mille intensification against large-scale cannabis cultivation by organised crime
groups.[1][2]
The National Police Chiefs’ Council said the phase included 368 warrants and searches,
48,328 cannabis plants seized with an estimated street value of GBP 48,328,000, 242 arrests, 65
weapons recovered including 14 firearms, and GBP 183,590 in cash.[1]
Assistant Chief Constable Adam Ball, who led the operation, said police also referred 19 people
suspected of modern slavery and human trafficking for support.[1]Regional releases described
parallel activity in the South West, where five forces reported 32 searches and 2,240 plants
destroyed in the same national week.[2]
Ball said almost half of raided addresses had no one present, matching a trend toward empty
factories.[1]
Photos and video
NPCC release image for Operation Mille cannabis crackdown results.Photo details
Hampshire police seized cannabis, a mobile phone and almost £400 in cash from the passenger of a vehicle in Southampton during a stop for suspected drug-related activity, part of Operation Enduro. No weight was given for the cannabis and no arrests were reported.
West Yorkshire Police's Bradford City team raided a Little Horton Lane property and dismantled an industrial-scale cannabis farm estimated at £2 million; Nam Bao, 45, was arrested, charged with Class B production and remanded in custody.
Hampshire's Neighbourhood Enforcement Team entered a Maskell Way home in Farnborough on 8 October 2026 on tip-off reports and found about 53 cannabis plants plus harvested stock; three men aged 24, 25 and 32 were arrested on suspicion of Class B production and remain in custody.
In the June 2023 Operation Mille intensification, police across England and Wales executed 1,013 warrants, seizing 182,422 cannabis plants valued at GBP 115-130 million and arresting 967 people in the largest national operation of its kind.
