Operation Keymer was a crackdown on cannabis-growing factories in the United Kingdom during late 2006. This was the first operation by the police to specifically target growing factories and the police described it as a great success.
Contents
Scale of operation
The extent of the operation is not specifically known and reporting of it is contradictory. A Cambridgeshire Police report stated that between 25 September 2006 and 6 October 2006, nine raids took place netting them 12 arrests and over 4500 plants. The Guardian website reports 28,000 cannabis plants and 54 kilos worth £2.5 million over the same period.
The Cambridge police claim to have seized 2.7 million pounds of cannabis in the 2 weeks they reported on. Assuming a street value of £20 for one eighth of an ounce that means a haul of £2.7 million / £20 / 8 = 16875 ounces. One assumes the weight is inflated because of plants not being dried before being weighed.
Effects of raids
On the street it widely affected the supply of cannabis, leading to lots of "dry" areas. Shortages were predicted to continue until February when the replacement stocks were ready to be harvested.
The operation is blamed for the spreading of sub standard cannabis containing silica, a sand like substance that when inhaled causes silicosis (a form of irreversible damage to the lungs).