Five arrests in Luton after two cannabis factories shut down by police

On Wednesday, February 17, two cannabis factories in Kent Road and Tennyson Road, Luton, were discovered and dismantled. One day later, officers discovered more than 100 cannabis plants in a property in Dunstable town centre.

Five people were arrested in Luton on suspicion of possession of cannabis and the investigation is ongoing.

In its clampdown on drugs, Bedfordshire Police has identified several organised crime groups linked to the western Balkans, such as Albania, Kosovo and Serbia, who are believed to be producing cocaine and cannabis in the local area.

Research carried out in 2019 found that there were 34,000 users of illegal drugs in Bedfordshire, almost one in 10 people aged 16 to 59. Drug users in Bedfordshire are also estimated to be spending around £59 million on cannabis every year.

Detective Chief Inspector Louisa Glynn, from the force’s intelligence unit, said: “It is essential we continue to crackdown on those responsible for both Class A and Class B drugs supply in our county.

“Organised criminal gangs use drugs as their main source of income, and growing and selling cannabis is a key part of this business model. It is relatively cheap to produce and there are thousands of customers in Bedfordshire alone to sell to.

“These gangs then deliberately exploit young and vulnerable people, and drive much of the violence and antisocial behaviour that blights our communities.

“These groups are commonly involved in the cultivation of cannabis and large factories for production. They are then using the returns to fund the supply of Class A drugs, and are involved in firearms trafficking, money laundering, modern slavery and human trafficking.

“We are determined to make Bedfordshire a hostile environment for anyone attempting to deal drugs in our county, but we need your support. If you have any information or concerns about activity in your area, please report it and help us crack down on organised crime.”