DRUGS BUSTS DENY CRIMINALS ?3.5M

Swindon police closed down more than 20 cannabis factories in 2008,
seizing millions of pounds worth of drugs before they hit the town's
streets.

Cannabis plants worth more than ?3.5m have been destroyed this year,
following the closure of 14 addresses used to cultivate the drug.

Throughout the year, Swindon's police officers have been collecting
evidence and bashing down the doors of suspected drug dens, and
disrupting major organised crime rings.

Detective Kevin Capstick said disruption of the factories was denting
serious crime rackets operating nationally.

"These raids have a large impact in terms of national crime levels,"
he said. "When we take away a profit of ?3.5m, it makes a big impact,
as the factories are professionally run by well-organised gangs.

"But although 3,500 plants is significant, we are forever searching
for criminals involved in the cultivation and dealing of drugs.

"We could not do anything without the assistance of the public and
thank them for their support, which helps us take this positive action."

Last month, a gang of eight Albanian and Vietnamese criminals were
jailed for 25 years for orchestrating a highly sophisticated drug
growing operation in the town.

Former Rouge nighclub boss Aurel Kollabani and his brother Elis set up
factories in Kipling Gardens, Stratton and Torun Way Haydon End and
ran two more factories in Oxford and Cardiff from their Brunel
Crescent flat.

In September, 1,000 plants were found growing under 90 high powered
lamps at one of the town's biggest ever drug factories in Whitworth
Road.

Swindon police divisional commander Paul Howlett said: "The tentacles
of organised crime have spread into cannabis factories as there is so
much cash to be made.

"There is evidence to suggest that many of these cannabis factories
form part of a much larger criminal organisation.

"And it is illegal immigrants who are brought into the country to
cultivate the plant, which adds another dimension to the human suffering."

In August, 300 plants were found at an address in Ferndale
Road.

In April police found drugs with a street value of more than ?97,000
at a house in Maunsell Way, Wroughton. Chinese gardener Jian Wu Wu was
found inside the address when officers forced entry and was jailed for
two years in August.

Eagle-eyed residents in Rose Street, Rodbourne, became suspicious of
late-night deliveries to an address in their road. When police acted
on the tip-off they found 200 young plants inside and described the
set up as a "fledgling drugs factory".

Another factory in Ventnor Close, Moredon was busted in
April.

And a makeshift factory capable of producing ?50,000 worth of drugs a
year was uncovered in Stanier Street, Kingshill.

Following the haul Sgt Scott Hargreave told the Adver Swindon's drugs
were mainly controlled by a handful of organised gangs.

"Cannabis is a significant problem nationally and Swindon is no
different," said Sgt Hargreave.

"This is a huge money-making industry run by three or four organised
crime groups in Swindon."

Of Swindon's 23 neighbourhood policing areas, almost half identified
drugs as one of their biggest problems.

The worst affected areas included Toothill, Freshbrook, Highworth,
Penhill, Brooks Close in Upper Stratton, Burnett Close in Haydon Wick,
the Rodbourne Arms in Moredon, Beatrice Street in Gorse Hill, the
Railway Village, Broadgreen and the Town Centre.