Taking up to 200 cannabis plants in Smoky Valley

A significant cannabis cultivation operation was discovered in Reykholt, located in the Bláskógabyggð area of South Iceland, according to recent reports. The police investigation revealed that the individuals responsible for this cultivation were linked to two other similar operations recently halted in the southwest region. These operations are believed to have been part of organized criminal activity, as indicated by the authorities. According to information from the news agency, the value of the cultivated cannabis could reach tens of millions of Icelandic krona. This discovery marks one of the largest such operations found in South Iceland over the past few years.

The police in South Iceland confirmed that they seized approximately 200 cannabis plants along with cultivation equipment and other suspected narcotics from a house in Reykholt on Monday. Rúnar Steingrímsson, a police officer, stated that this was the largest cultivation site found in the region in recent years. He mentioned that the police had received a tip-off about unusual activities around a house in Reykholt the previous day. Upon investigating, the police detected a strong smell of cannabis near the house and proceeded with further actions. They waited for someone to arrive at the house before taking action. The police and investigative units arrived on-site, dismantled the operation, and transported the plants and equipment using a transport van. The substances will be sent for analysis. Rúnar noted that there were approximately 200 plants spread throughout several rooms in the house, describing the situation as "very extensive." An individual was arrested in connection with the operation, though it remains unclear whether the person is an Icelander. Rúnar also mentioned that it is under investigation whether the cannabis cultivation is connected to planned drug trafficking or organized crime groups.

The police in South Iceland emphasized their commitment to addressing all tips that help uncover similar cases, including the one received the previous day. However, the head of the national police office's investigative division stated that their unit did not participate in the operation. Similarly, the chief of the investigative department in the capital area said that their unit was not involved in the case. Despite these statements, the operation has sparked interest among law enforcement agencies due to its scale and potential links to organized crime.

In addition to the cannabis cultivation incident in Reykholt, another unrelated but notable event occurred in the western part of North Iceland, where two foreign nationals were arrested for repeated thefts from stores in the surrounding areas. During searches of their residences, police found stolen goods and small amounts of narcotics. The regional police authority is conducting an investigation into the matter, as stated in a Facebook post from the local police department. Meanwhile, in Thailand, an Australian man named Simon Peter Carman was charged with murder after the body of a 17-year-old girl was found in a suitcase in the coastal city of Pattaya. Carman was apprehended at an international airport in Bangkok and claimed he intended to flee the country following the incident. The girl’s family had contacted the police after she went missing, and the police reportedly monitored her movements via surveillance cameras in the city. Carman was seen entering the girl’s accommodation on Thursday evening and later leaving with a large suitcase. He was then observed driving away on a motorcycle towards a ferry terminal. Carman was arrested on Sunday afternoon, and the girl’s body was discovered in the suitcase about fifteen minutes later. Carman denied responsibility, claiming self-defense, and stated that he had agreed to pay the girl 1,000 Thai baht, equivalent to approximately 3,800 Icelandic krona, for sexual services. He alleged that the girl left the room while he was sleeping. The Thai police indicated that there was evidence suggesting an assault took place, possibly related to a sexual act. International media are now engaging with the victim’s family, who described her as the sole child of her parents and living with them in Kalasin province, about 480 kilometers northeast of Pattaya. The family said she had told them she was going to spend time with friends and had arrived in Pattaya on June 16. If Carman is found guilty of the murder, he could face the death penalty under Thai law.

Meanwhile, in the capital area, an electric scooter rider was arrested in Grafarvogur yesterday evening for operating the vehicle under the influence. This incident is part of a series of arrests detailed in the police log of the capital area, which states that seven individuals are currently in custody. The log mentions that two people were arrested at 101 Reykjavík for property crimes, drug possession, and failure to comply with police instructions. There was also a traffic accident in Bústaðarhverfi where a driver fled the scene. In Hafnarfjörður, a motorcyclist was arrested for drunk driving, and a 16-year-old boy was charged with stealing a car in Garðabær. Another motorcyclist in Kópavogur was charged, although he was wearing a helmet on June 28. Three people were injured in a traffic accident in Árbær, and vehicles were removed from the scene.