Police have shut down six cannabis cafes in East London, seizing thousands in drugs and cash during a major operation.
East London: So, here’s the scoop. Six cannabis cafes got shut down in Tower Hamlets recently. This all happened over the last three months, and it’s part of a big police operation called ‘Operation Appetite’.
During this operation, the police seized over £600,000 worth of Class B drugs. They’ve been busy, closing these cafes down between October and December 2024. The local officers are not stopping there; they’re also making arrests and looking into how to prevent more cafes from popping up.
A spokesperson for the Tower Hamlets MPS shared on X that they’ve been working hard to tackle this issue. They mentioned that these cafes have a negative impact on the community and local businesses.
As part of this operation, they’ve seized a total of £677,200 in Class B drugs, along with some Class A drugs and cash. They’ve even made 13 arrests so far.
One of the cafes, called Electric Pool in Bethnal Green, was shut down after a raid in October. This led to a three-month Closure Order to keep it from being used for drug activities again.
A council spokesperson said they’re really focused on tackling drug supply and substance use in the area. They’ve got a new strategy in place and are investing in community safety.
They’re using all sorts of resources, including regular patrols and a fancy CCTV system with over 350 cameras that are monitored around the clock.
Plus, they’re supporting criminal investigations and helping people get into treatment for addiction. The council has put nearly £7 million into these efforts to help folks turn their lives around.
Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com
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