Highly successful South Yorkshire Police operations have taken over a million pounds worth of cannabis off the streets and dismantled two major criminal networks responsible for cultivating the drug.

Within the last two years Vietnamese and Chinese organised crime groups (OCGs) operating 20 cannabis factories across the county have been tracked down and brought to justice.

Thanks to ‘Operation Musk’ three Vietnamese men and one woman are currently serving a total of 16 years in prison between them and following ‘Operation Manakin’, eight Chinese men and one woman face custodial sentences after pleading guilty to conspiracy to produce controlled drugs. Eight are appearing at Sheffield Crown Court this week.

A report out today commissioned by the Association of Chief Police Officers, ‘The UK National Problem Profile, shows that the commercial cultivation of cannabis has escalated nationally during the last few years. Yet the number of factories in South Yorkshire has fallen since 2008 (from 140 to 119).

“There can be little doubt that the switch of tactics to proactive and covert investigations and research in the last two years has had an impact on these OCGs,” said Detective Inspector Richard Shimwell.

“Like many forces before 2008 we had limited success with our disruption techniques which resulted only in the ‘gardeners’ being prosecuted and receiving relatively minor punishments.

“Since then our tactics have improved our intelligence, both locally and nationally, and sent out a deterrent message.”

During Operation Musk it was discovered that the Vietnamese involved, who lived in one house, ‘serviced’ nine cannabis factories in the Sheffield and Rotherham areas on a daily basis. Investigations also revealed where they acquired their equipment and how they set it up.

In the court case that followed (January 2009) it was disclosed that about £44,000 was paid out on renting houses for cultivation but the proceeds from the yields were over ten times this amount.

Operation Manakin uncovered 11 factories in the Doncaster area housing cannabis plants with a street value of £700,000. The investigation also discovered a network of either failed asylum seekers, illegal entrants, overstayers and persons wanted for cannabis production in other regions of the country.

Not only were ‘gardeners’ identified but also those involved in the organisation, distribution and financing of the operation.

Subsequently nine Chinese suspects were arrested, charged and remanded in custody.

“It all started when we received information from a vigilant member of the public concerning the suspicious activity of a Chinese man who had moved into a neighbouring house,” added DI Shimwell.

“So it just shows how residents can help us reduce crime. We are grateful for any tip offs and would urge the public to keep up the good work.”