30 arrests and £366k seized in police raids
FIVE-DAY OPERATION TARGETS ‘FOREIGN NATIONAL OFFENDERS’
A POLICE operation to “disrupt and target” criminals from abroad who are living in Leicester has seen dozens of people arrested in the city.
Thirty “foreign national offenders” (FNOs) – individuals wanted for crimes in the UK and other countries – were detained in a series of raids during a week-long operation by Leicestershire Police.
Operation Once saw officers from the force work alongside immigration officials and other government agencies to identify and trace suspects.
A police spokesman said the arrests were made at the end of September and beginning of October – but further investigations meant details could not be released until now.
He said: “The purpose of the operation was to bring those involved in crime both in the UK and overseas to justice, and also protect vulnerable people who are at risk of harm from criminal activity.”
On Monday, September 28, officers assisted East Midlands immigration colleagues at premises in Leicester, where four people found to be in the UK illegally were arrested.
A further four people were arrested after being wanted on warrant. Two of those were detained under a European Arrest Warrant for offences in Poland.
The following day, a warrant was executed at an address in Gypsy Lane, Leicester, where nearly 200 cannabis plants were recovered and an Albanian national was arrested on behalf of another force.
On Wednesday, September 30, a targeted operation took place on the West Leicester neighbourhood policing area (NPA), where assistance was provided by the force’s roads policing unit (RPU).
The police spokesman said: “One person was arrested for failing to stop for police and another arrested for using fraudulent identification documents. As a result of further inquiries, officers recovered just over £366,000 in cash.
“A number of other properties were searched, resulting in eight vehicles and 70 cannabis plants being recovered, with three further arrests.
“The following day saw a Hungarian national, with a previous conviction for murder and for whom a European arrest warrant had been issued, detained. A Polish national was also arrested for offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
“During the day teams also carried out inquiries around possible modern slavery and exploitation offences.
“A further eight people were arrested on Friday as officers uncovered two further cannabis grows, resulting in plants being recovered.”
A 30-year-old Albanian national has been charged with offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act and remanded in custody, while a 32-year-old man and 22-year-old woman who were also arrested remain on police bail.
The other 26 people arrested were handed over to be dealt with by immigration officials and other government agencies.
Detective Sergeant Gary Bee, from the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) for Leicestershire, oversaw the operation.
He said: “Operation Once was put into practice as a result of information collated and passed on to us that established a number of criminals wanted in other countries were living in Leicester.
“As a result of our proactive approach, 30 people were arrested over a five-day period.
“A significant part of the operation was focused in the area around Narborough Road, on the West Leicester NPA, where we know there’s a very diverse make-up across the community.
“Unfortunately, what this means is that foreign national offenders are able to hide in plain sight.
“We know that vulnerable people living in this area have been exploited by these criminals, who may belong to organised crime groups.”
Det Sgt Bee added: “Focusing our attention on this area of the city in particular meant we were able to trace and arrest those individuals and also safeguard those at risk of harm.
“Many of these people have been passed on to partner organisations to be dealt with moving forward.”
He warned that the force will not tolerate criminals from overseas hiding out and continuing their illegal activities in Leicester.
“As a force, we will continue taking a proactive and joined-up approach to tackle serious and organised crime affecting our communities and we will endeavour to bring those responsible to justice,” he said.