Five people have been arrested and charged by Met officers after a large quantity of cannabis was seized at Stansted Airport.

The Met’s investigation was led by officers from a new proactive policing team based in Hayes. The team are focused on tackling the most serious offences and organised crime in west London.

Two shipments of cannabis, totalling 390kg and with a street value of £3.9million, were seized at Stansted Airport by Border Force officers on 26 and 27 January. A previous shipment of 300kg of a substance believed to be cannabis was delivered to an address in Hayes on 11 January and was also linked to the investigation.

Working at pace following these seizures, Met officers executed warrants on 1 February at industrial units in Hayes and Northolt. Three men and one juvenile were arrested in Hayes. One man was arrested in a van which was stopped by police in Northolt.

Four men from west London, aged between 28 and 58, were charged with importing cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. They appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 3 February where they were remanded in custody to appear at Harrow Crown Court on Friday 1 March.

A fifth male, aged 17, also appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court charged with importing cannabis. He was released on bail.