TEN people have been arrested in London in the second phase of a Northumbria Police operation targeting an organised crime group suspected of organising, maintaining and running Vietnamese cannabis farms in force area.

The arrests comes as part of Operation Attero, a campaign targeting organised criminals who manage a network of cannabis farms and those who provide the accommodation and equipment to set up the farms.

They were arrested yesterday following dawn raids at four addresses led by officers from the Northumbria Police Total Policing Task Force with support from the Metropolitan Police Service's territorial support group and the UK Border Agency.

Officers carried out synchronised raids at a bar, a Chinese takeaway, and two residential addresses in south London.

A car was also seized using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Detective Superintendent Peter Farrell of the Total Policing Task Force said: "Organised criminals have been making too much money from the cultivation and supply of cannabis, and too many people's lives have been worsened because of drugs, including cannabis.

"Since the enforcement action taken by Northumbria Police to rid Newcastle and surrounding areas of cannabis farms a massive reduction in the number of such enterprises has been achieved.

"To date more than 30 people have been arrested, and cannabis with a street value in excess of £4,000,000 has been taken out of circulation.

"Today's arrests will further disrupt and weaken organised criminals' ability to continue their business in Northumbria Police's area.

"The raids and arrests in London should clearly be seen as Northumbria Police's absolute drive and determination to smash the organisation that lies behind the cannabis farms and arrest the people who really profit from them.

"Northumbria Police will go after and arrest anyone, wherever they are, who brings controlled drugs and the misery they cause, to our cities, towns and villages."

The raids took place at 6am on Tuesday, September 29 in South London at Blissett Street, Greenwich; Lewisham Way, Lewisham; and Brandon Street and Lordship Lane, both in Southwark.

Six people have been arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis and four for immigration offences.

They are currently being questioned at police stations in the London area.

A further 26 people of Vietnamese origin will be interviewed by the UKBA and Metropolitan Police about immigration offences.