Crack cocaine, heroin and cash seized in police raids

Three men have been charged after more than £30,000 worth of crack cocaine and heroin was seized in police raids across Aberdeen.

Almost £20,000 in cash was also recovered as part of the intelligence-led county lines operation.

On Thursday, officers raided nine properties in areas including Garthdee, Rosemount, Bucksburn and Bridge of Don.

Over the course of the operation, known as Operation Makeshift, police recovered the cash haul as well as heroin with a street value of £13,000 and crack cocaine with a street value of £18,000.

Three men, aged 22, 35 and 47, were arrested and charged in connection with drug supply offences and will appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Friday.

Police said county lines groups typically use young or vulnerable people to deliver or store drugs, and to sell to customers.

This can involve intimidation, violence and in some cases the sexual exploitation of young people.

Members of a group may take over a vulnerable person’s home as a base to conduct their operations from, often coercing the person into helping them through violence or threats of violence.

Detective inspector Martyn Thomson said: “Proactively targeting organised crime groups who exploit vulnerable people and import drugs into our communities for their own illicit gain remains a priority for our officers.

“Thursday’s operation shows we’re committed to identifying the supply chain of drugs and disrupting the activity of people intent on bringing them to the north-east.

“Drugs cause nothing but harm and despair to families and communities.

“However we can’t do this alone. The public continue to play a vital role in assisting investigations into drug crime and I would encourage anyone who believes an individual or property within their community may be being exploited for criminal purposes to contact Police Scotland.”

If you have any concerns about the supply of illegal drugs in your area, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.