CANNABIS worth £1.5m was seized during an operation to target travelling criminals.

The campaign on the M11 was organised by the Chigwell Road Policing Unit who are now taking action against more than 1,500 offending drivers.

A 33-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were arrested on May 27 for suspicion of burglary and were among eight people detained for various offences since Operation Minstrel was launched on May 16.

Speeding was the most common offence with more than 900 cases recorded by a speed camera van in the first 12 days of the operation, with the majority of drivers exceeding 97mph.

More than 30 cars were seized and 460 fixed penalty notices issued.

Sgt Dan Barber of the road policing unit at Chigwell said the operation had been a success.

He added: "The message is clear - if you choose to disregard road traffic law which is in place to improve road safety and prevent collisions and reduce casualties, or choose to use Essex roads to travel to commit crime, you can expect to be caught and prosecuted."