Arrests have been made after "smuggled" Albanian migrants were discovered working at a cannabis farm in Wigan, as the National Crime Agency issued an appeal for a man with links to Manchester.
Detectives have detained the suspected boss of an organised crime group that uses trafficked Albanian nationals to farm cannabis across the North West during a sting operation this week.
It comes after three farms were discovered which were being mined by migrants in Leigh in Greater Manchester, Blackpool in Lancashire and Prestatyn in North Wales.
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The man, aged in his fifties, was arrested by National Crime Agency officers at an address in Prestatyn yesterday (May 23). In co-ordinated strikes supported by North Wales Police, a second man, in his 60s, was arrested at another address in the town.
A third man, an Albanian national aged 28, was arrested by Cheshire Police on the M6. The trio were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to cultivate and distribute cannabis and money laundering.
It is believed the crime group has links to a Western Balkans Organised Crime Group which facilitates the illegal entry of Albanian nationals into the UK. It is suspected that once in the country, the migrants work in the OCG's cannabis farms.
NCA officers are now appealing for information to trace Albanian national Jeton Memia, 29, who has linked to Manchester and Southend in Essex. Officers are also appealing for information to trace Trevor Williams, 61, of Ruthin, North Wales.
During searches connected to Monday's arrests, officers discovered two RIBS (rigid inflatable boats), quantities of cash, crack cocaine, cannabis and drugs paraphernalia associated with cannabis farms.
NCA operations manager Julie Booker said: "This is a complex investigation into organised crime groups that have been running cannabis farms across the country and facilitating illegal migrants into the UK to work in them.
"We are appealing for information to help trace two men who we want to speak to as part of our investigation. We believe these arrests will have significantly disrupted the crime groups and their ability to operate.”
Anyone with information should contact the NCA Control Centre on 0370 496 7622 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
