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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| £8.4m cannabis operation revealed | £8.4m cannabis operation revealed |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Police have released details of a major operation in which £8.4m worth of cannabis has been seized across Northern Ireland. | Police have released details of a major operation in which £8.4m worth of cannabis has been seized across Northern Ireland. |
| The PSNI said it had been running the operation for several months. Forty-five people, all from South East Asia, have been charged. | |
| A large number of cannabis factories were also shut down. | A large number of cannabis factories were also shut down. |
| "Police believe these factories are linked to organised crime," said Detective Inspector Peter Moore. | "Police believe these factories are linked to organised crime," said Detective Inspector Peter Moore. |
| "Organised crime gangs have turned their attention from mainland UK to Northern Ireland, presumably because they thought they wouldn't get caught. They were wrong." | "Organised crime gangs have turned their attention from mainland UK to Northern Ireland, presumably because they thought they wouldn't get caught. They were wrong." |
| "We believe the cannabis is being cultivated here for distribution and sale outside Northern Ireland. Our investigations are continuing with a number of other agencies to determine the scale and extent of the network." | "We believe the cannabis is being cultivated here for distribution and sale outside Northern Ireland. Our investigations are continuing with a number of other agencies to determine the scale and extent of the network." |
| Organised crime gangs are exploiting people from South East Asia in the cultivation process Detective Inspector Peter Moore | Organised crime gangs are exploiting people from South East Asia in the cultivation process Detective Inspector Peter Moore |
| A total of 55 properties were searched as part of the operation, resulting in 56 arrests. | A total of 55 properties were searched as part of the operation, resulting in 56 arrests. |
| Officers recovered 14,500 cannabis plants with a street value of £7.3 million and 113 kilos of herbal cannabis with a street value of £1.1 million. | Officers recovered 14,500 cannabis plants with a street value of £7.3 million and 113 kilos of herbal cannabis with a street value of £1.1 million. |
| They also seized £120,000 in cash as well as substantial amounts of cannabis growing equipment. | They also seized £120,000 in cash as well as substantial amounts of cannabis growing equipment. |
| "Organised crime gangs are exploiting people from South East Asia in the cultivation process. Police believe those involved in this illegal activity are not local Chinese people but individuals from outside Northern Ireland," said Peter Moore. | "Organised crime gangs are exploiting people from South East Asia in the cultivation process. Police believe those involved in this illegal activity are not local Chinese people but individuals from outside Northern Ireland," said Peter Moore. |
| "Police have met with representatives of the local Chinese community and they are as outraged as all other right-thinking members of our society. | "Police have met with representatives of the local Chinese community and they are as outraged as all other right-thinking members of our society. |
| "They should not be stigmatised or victimised because of the actions of outsiders." | "They should not be stigmatised or victimised because of the actions of outsiders." |