Cannabis-sakene 2008


or refers to the series of criminal cases where illegal cannabis plantations were discovered in Norway in 2007 and 2008. The case was eventually one of Norway's largest narcotics cases.

Background

In November 2007, firefighters responding to a call stumbled upon a large cannabis farm in Enger in Søndre Land Municipality in Oppland county. Thus began the investigation of what was later assessed as a large drug network for the cannabis production.

Investigation

Anders said in a press release in February 2008 that the agency "has a national responsibility for investigating drug related crimes, and has since the end of January become involved with investigating the cannabis plantation cases. – We're looking at what connections there are there between for firms and enterprises among the different cases, the connections for firms and enterprises that are abroad, and on the ringleaders and the network behind it, according to the head of the tactical department for investigation Anders Atle Roll-Matthiesen. A 5 March preliminary meeting was held between the involved police districts and National Criminal Investigation Service to discuss whether the investigation should be centralized.
The Norwegian security agency Kripos stated that the cases and plantations could probably be connected to the ringleaders abroad. There are commonalities related to both: ties to the Vietnamese-Norwegian community, and the common way in which the plantations are built and supplied with electricity. Both the equipment and the methods that were used in the system, and theft of electricity, the properties have similarities in many cases throughout the country.
The Norwegian police stated that they believe that the case has links to other countries, and mentioned England, the Netherlands and Canada as well as Norway's neighboring countries, Sweden and Denmark. Danish police attended a coordination meeting at Kripos in Oslo on 5 March.

Cases

The table below is an overview of the findings associated with the case. As of April 2008, not all the cases had been compiled.
Date discoveredPlaceCountyArrestedNotes
27 June 2007Nittedal MunicipalityAkershus?Cannabis plantation
3 October 2007Oslo MunicipalityOslo?Cannabis plantation
18 November 2007Enger, Søndre Land MunicipalityOppland–Cannabis plantation
27 November 2007Svelvik MunicipalityVestfold?Cannabis plantation
7 December 2007Sarpsborg MunicipalityØstfold1Cannabis plantation
12 December 2007Halmstad, Rygge MunicipalityØstfold2Cannabis plantation
13 December 2007Sarpsborg MunicipalityØstfold1Cannabis-plantation
28 December 2007Kobbervikdalen, Drammen MunicipalityBuskerud1–2Cannabis plantation
31 December 2007Askim MunicipalityØstfold–Recipes, cannabis leftovers and flower pots
14 January 2008Sætre, Hurum MunicipalityBuskerud1Cannabis plantation
24 January 2008Sarpsborg MunicipalityØstfold1Cannabis plantation
25 January 2008Skogsbygda, Nes MunicipalityAkershus–Cannabis plantation
27 January 2008Horten MunicipalityVestfold?Cannabis plantation
28 January 2008Greniskogen, Nes MunicipalityAkershus1Cannabis plantation
6 February 2008Rolvsøy, Fredrikstad MunicipalityØstfold–Cannabis plantation
8 February 2008Skarnes, Sør-Odal MunicipalityHedmark3Cannabis plantation
13 February 2008Roverud, Kongsvinger MunicipalityHedmark–Cannabis plantation
14 February 2008Kråkerøy, Fredrikstad MunicipalityØstfold1Cannabis plantation
14 February 2008NomeTelemark1Cannabis plantation
15 February 2008Lillehammer MunicipalityOppland2–3Cannabis plantation
17 February 2008Kongsberg MunicipalityBuskerud1Cannabis plantation
20 February 2008Feiring, Eidsvoll MunicipalityAkershus2Cannabis plantation
21 February 2008Gran MunicipalityOppland–Cannabis plantation
21 February 2008Åsnes MunicipalityHedmark2Cannabis plantation, pots not plants
24 February 2008Øvre Eiker MunicipalityBuskerud2Cannabis plantation
25 February 2008Ski MunicipalityAkershus–50 cannabis potted plants dumped on a forest path
26 February 2008Tønsberg and HortenVestfold104 different cannabis plantations revealed
26 February 2008Rollag MunicipalityBuskerud1Cannabis plantation
27 February 2008Flatby, Enebakk MunicipalityAkershus5Cannabis plantation
29 February 2008Marker MunicipalityØstfold1Cannabis plantation
29 February 2008Rømskog MunicipalityØstfold1Production equipment
29 February 2008Kirkebygda, Enebakk MunicipalityAkershus1Cannabis plantation
4 March 2008Nes MunicipalityAkershus–Cannabis plantation
20 March 2008Hønefoss, Ringerike MunicipalityBuskerud2Cannabis plantation
28 March 2008Gan, Fet MunicipalityAkershus2Cannabis plantation
30 March 2008Sandefjord MunicipalityVestfold–Cannabis plantation
6 April 2008Økernveien, Oslo MunicipalityOslo?Cannabis plantation
8 April 2008Nordsinni, Nordre Land MunicipalityOppland1Cannabis plantation
22 April 2008Lunner MunicipalityOppland2Cannabis plantation
23 April 2008Trondheimsveien, Oslo MunicipalityOslo–Cannabis plantation
21 June 2008Kyrkjøy, Finnøy MunicipalityRogaland–Outdoor Cannabis Plantation
2 July 2008Kyrkjøy, Finnøy MunicipalityRogaland–Cannabis plantation in residential buildings

Charges and prosecution

By March 2008, 80 persons suspected of crimes had been charged in the case for the cultivation of the narcotic plant, and over 40 of them remanded. Nine different police districts: and Anders were cooperating in the case.
On 3 April, it became known that the police suspected the owner of a chain of stores, believing that he had ties with the many cannabis farms that had been discovered. He was arrested together with four other people, when the police uncovered 500 cannabis plants on a farm he owned in Enebakk Municipality in February. Furthermore, his phone number was found in the contacts of several other indicted in connection with the other cannabis findings in other locations, though the suspect denied the charges.