Cannabis plants worth more than £860,000 have been seized from properties in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys in just one week as police continue their crackdown on industrial scale drug production.

Dyfed-Powys Police took part in Operation Mille 3 – a week-long national policing operation aimed at disrupting large scale cannabis factories established by organised crime networks – with activity proving highly successful.

Over seven days, six properties were raided, with seven people arrested, and six of those charged with production of cannabis.

Teams including CID, proactive policing officers, neighbourhood policing and prevention, armed response, dog handlers and drone pilots all played their part in the activity.

Detective Chief Inspector Rich Lewis said: “In just one week we have seized and destroyed a significant amount of cannabis, which will in no doubt have disrupted organised criminal activity within Dyfed-Powys and beyond.

“The growth of cannabis on a commercial scale is a problem we have faced over the past year in Dyfed-Powys, but we are taking a robust approach to stamping it out. We are continually assessing intelligence around where these factories are being set up, and who is involved in establishing and maintaining them, taking swift action when we have enough evidence to strike.

“While our communities might be under the impression that cannabis on this scale would be grown in large industrial units, or out of town, this week of action has seen us target a number of terraced rental properties in or near town centres, which have been converted to grow hundreds of plants.

“These properties look perfectly normal from the street – as careful methods are put in place to cover up illegal activity. However, there are signs to look out for if you suspect you might live near a cannabis factory. We urge you to familiarise yourself with these signs, and to contact us if you have any concerns, or information to share.”

For Dyfed-Powys, this activity is a continuation of Operation Scotney, a CID-led operation which has been running since January 2024. In that time, warrants have been executed at more than 40 industrial scale cannabis factories, and over £12 million of cannabis seized.

Operation Mille results:

Cambrian Street, Llanelli:

The week’s action began on Monday, February 17, where officers forced entry into a house on Cambrian Street, Llanelli. Intelligence suggested a large amount of cannabis was being grown inside the terraced house, and officers immediately noticed a strong smell inside. A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of producing cannabis, and the proactive policing team began searching the property.

It quickly became clear that the house was being used as a cannabis factory, with mature plants found in five rooms – the kitchen, three bedrooms and the attic. A cupboard under the stairs was also being used to grow miniature plants.  which were estimated at being just a fortnight from being cultivated. In total, 179 plants were seized, with a potential street value of up to £61,600.

The house – a rental property – was left in a dangerous state as a result of unlawful abstraction of electricity. Each room had lighting and venting ducts hanging from the ceilings, grow ballasts secured to the walls, and had coverings attached to the floors and walls. External windows had been covered up, however blinds were attached to give the appearance of normality.

Muhammed Sulaj was charged with production of cannabis and will appear in Swansea Crown Court on March 21.

Kidwelly:

The following day, a warrant was executed at a rural property outside Kidwelly, with detectives, dog handlers, and neighbourhood policing and prevention teams in attendance. Entry was gained to the yard through a barbed wire fence, and the homeowner, Martin Evans – who was located inside a mobile home – was arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis.

Officers who entered the farmhouse through a side door were immediately faced with a small make-shift bedroom containing a bed, cooker and fridge, where they located one man, Fatjon Xhafa. Beyond that room, which Xhafa was living in, the entirety of the house was filled with cannabis plants of varying maturity, along with growing materials, lighting and ventilation equipment.

As one team scoured the building to ensure nobody else was present, another gained entry to an external storage container, where a number of smaller plants were discovered.

A total of 194 plants were seized for destruction, with an estimated value of up £264,100.

Fatjon Xhafa was charged with production of cannabis, and appeared in Llanelli Magistrates’ Court where he did not enter a plea. He will appear in Swansea Crown Court on Monday, March 24.

Martin Evans was charged with production of cannabis and concerned in the supply of cannabis. He appeared in Llanelli Magistrates Court and entered a guilty plea. He will appear in Swansea Crown Court on Monday, March 24 for sentencing.

Mansel Street Burry Port:

A third warrant was carried out by the Carmarthenshire proactive policing team at Mansel Street, Burry Port on Friday, February 21. As officers entered the property through the front door, they arrested a man on suspicion of production of cannabis.

Following a search of the house, almost 170 cannabis plants were found, many of which were just entering the flowering stage. The street value of the cannabis was in the region of £166,000.

Renaldo Allmuca, was charged with producing cannabis and appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, February 26 and entered no plea. He was remanded in custody and will appear in Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, March 28.

Gilbert Crescent, Llanelli:

The final Carmarthenshire warrant under Operation Mille was carried out at Gilbert Crescent, Llanelli. Nearly 150 cannabis plants were found inside the house, with a potential value of up to £113,000.

Fabian Cela was charged with production of cannabis and was remanded into custody. He appeared in Llanelli Magistrates Court on Friday, February 28 where he entered a not guilty plea. Cela was remanded in custody and will appear at Swansea Crown Court on Monday, March 31.

Clifton Terrace, Newtown, Powys:

Officers forced entry to a four-storey property in Clifton Terrace, Newtown on Wednesday, February 19, with a dog handler in attendance following suspects’ attempts to flee other cannabis factories in Powys during previous warrants.

As the door gave way, a man was seen fleeing from the kitchen into a front room, prompting swift action to detain him while the remaining rooms were searched.

From the street, there was no way of knowing that 274 cannabis plants were growing inside the red brick building. The basement, upper floors and loft area were filled with growing equipment, hydroponic lights and ventilation pipes which fed heat out of the building through the chimney.

The extensive set-up was being run by an illegally adapted electricity supply, with the pavement in front of the house having been dug up to access the mains.

Along with the cannabis plants, which were valued at more than £255,000 two mobile phones, three SIM cards and cash were seized from the house.

Ismet Lika, aged 35, was charged with production of cannabis, which he admitted at court. He awaits sentencing on March 20.

Llanfihangel-Ar-Arth Ceredigion:

A section 8 drugs warrant was executed at a rural property in Llanfihangel-ar-Arth on Thursday, February 20, where a small cannabis grow was located in an external building along with cannabis within the property. Mobile devices and growing equipment were also seized.

One woman, aged 49, was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis, abstracting electricity, and possession with intent to supply cannabis.

She is currently on bail while enquiries continue.

The most frequent signs of a cannabis factory are:

HEAT: Cannabis plants need heat to grow. You may see condensation on windows or notice that ice and snow is missing on rooftops in the winter.

SMELL: Cannabis plants have a strong smell, which is stronger in the last three months of growth.

RUBBISH: Lots of ‘garden’ rubbish dumped outside such as plant pots, compost and empty plant food containers.

LIGHT: Cannabis needs bright lights 24 hours a day to grow. You may also hear noise from fans.

SECRECY: Windows might be covered up to hide illegal activity, or extra locks installed.

ELECTRICITY: Your street may be suffering from frequent and unusual power cuts as electricity meters are bypassed.

VISITORS: Are people coming and going, possibly at odd hours? Are the lights constantly on but nobody appears to be there?

If you have any information or concerns to share, contact Dyfed-Powys Police in the following ways:

Online: https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/

Email: 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk

Call 101

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.