Officers are appealing for information to trace a man who has links to Southend as part of an investigation into organised crime groups running cannabis farms.

National Crime Agency (NCA) officers are appealing for information to trace Albanian national Jeton Memia, 29, who has links to Southend and Manchester.

Officers are also appealing for information to trace Trevor Williams, 61, of Ruthin, North Wales.

This appeal comes after the suspected head of a crime group which uses smuggled Albanian migrants to farm cannabis has been arrested in a NCA operation.

The man, in his 50s, was arrested by NCA officers at an address in Prestatyn, North Wales, yesterday.

In co-ordinated strikes, a second man in his 60s was arrested at another address in Prestatyn.

Read more >>> Three people charged after £1million in drugs seized in south Essex

A third man, an Albanian national aged 28, was arrested by Cheshire Police on the M6.

The trio were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to cultivate and distribute cannabis and money laundering.

NCA operations manager Julie Booker said: “This is a complex investigation into organised crime groups that have been running cannabis farms across the country and facilitating illegal migrants into the UK to work in them.

“We are appealing for information to help trace two men who we want to speak to as part of our investigation.

“We believe these arrests will have significantly disrupted the crime groups and their ability to operate.”

It is believed the crime group has links to a Western Balkans organised crime group which facilitates the illegal entry of Albanian nationals into the UK.

Once in the country, it is believed the migrants work in the group's cannabis farms.

Read more >>> Man charged with firearms and drugs offences after morning raids in south Essex

As part of the investigation three cannabis farms were previously discovered with Albanian migrants working there.

They were in Blackpool, Lancashire; Leigh, Greater Manchester, and Prestatyn.

During searches connected to yesterday’s arrests, officers discovered two rigid inflatable boats, quantities of cash, crack cocaine and cannabis and drugs paraphernalia associated with cannabis farms.

Anyone with information should contact the NCA Control Centre on 0370 496 7622 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.