Police on Wednesday arrested three men (aged 33, 38 and 59) involved in a large hemp plantation in Kerkrade.

Some 500 plants were found. In addition to the action in Kerkrade, searches were also conducted in Heerlen and Simpelveld.
The three arrests stem from a major police operation against organized hemp cultivation in December. Five people were arrested then. One of the suspects is still in custody; he is a 30-year-old man from Valkenburg.

Read also: Automatic weapons and dozens of kilograms of hemp found.

The investigation is being conducted by the Undermining Limburg team, which is tackling the intertwining of the underworld and upper world to disrupt criminal drug trafficking networks.