Officers executing a warrant at an address in Hoddesdon have arrested a man after discovering suspected cannabis.

Marcel Samuels, aged 18, of Rye Road, Hoddesdon, has been bailed to return to North East Herts Magistrate’s Court on 25 October.

Detective Inspector for Broxbourne Tom Leeks said: “We are keeping up the pressure on those involved in the supply of drugs and related anti-social behaviour and crime in the borough, and this operation showed how we will act on intelligence received. Residents can make a real difference by reporting their concerns about an address or suspicious activity in their area.”

Armed officers from the Met’s London Crime Squad raided a commercial premises in Hitchin’s Bury Mead Road industrial area at about 6am, with support from a Herts police helicopter and officers.

Eight warrants were executed in the capital as part of the same swoop, with a second cannabis factory found there. About £4,000 in cash was seized.

Leigh Windsor, of Ramerick Gardens in Arlesey, grew scores of cannabis plants in Unit 10 of the former turkey farm off Stevenage Road in Todds Green – which is now an industrial site.

 PC Pete Lea, of the Operational Support Group, said afterwards: “I am pleased with Windsor’s sentence as it sends a clear message to any would-be drug dealers that we will crack down on this type of activity in our communities.

Windsor admitted possessing class A and B drugs with intent to supply, as well as being involved in growing the plants, when he appeared before Stevenage magistrates in March.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing has been scheduled for October 27 to explore whether the state can recover any money made by Windsor as a result of these offences.

Police in North Herts seized £13,500 worth of cannabis on Wednesday, March 15 after they stopped a vehicle in Hethermere, Letchworth.

Officers from the North Herts Intervention team, who deal with emergency response queries, were on routine patrol at around 8pm when they spotted a white van that appeared to be travelling at speed.

The officers indicated for the van to pull over and after a thorough search of the vehicle they discovered a black bin liner containing approximately 53 ounces of cannabis.

The three men who were inside the van were promptly arrested on suspicion of Possession of a Class B Drug with intent to supply. They include:

- A 35 year old man from London.
- A 31-year-old man from Hitchin.
- A 38-year-old man from London.
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All three men have been released on police bail and are due to return to Stevenage Police Station on May 15.

TWENTY TWO ARRESTED IN OPERATION HADE

Between January 1 2010 and December 31 2015, there were 2,436 separate cases recorded by police when quantities of drugs were seized. This is the equivalent of just over one drugs seizure every single day of the year.

The drugs confiscated most commonly are wraps of herbal cannabis. This is followed by cocaine in wrap or powdered form. Amphetamines, heroin and ecstasy occurs much less frequently.