Heroin and cocaine among drugs seized in Aberdeen as police launch city operation

Heroin and cocaine worth an estimated £22,000 has been seized after police launched a multi-agency operation aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour in Aberdeen.

It comes after high-profile activity within the city on Thursday and Friday with actions ranging from drugs raids, road checks, licensed premises being inspected and criminals being targeted.

The operation involved 143 trains and 33 buses being checked in and out of Aberdeen railway and Aberdeen bus stations with a number of people allegedly being found in possession of controlled drugs.

A 22-year-old man was arrested on an outstanding warrant and a 19-year-old man was arrested and charged with possession of an offensive weapon after being stopped by officers at Aberdeen Railway Station.

A number of search warrants were carried out throughout the city resulting in drugs, such as heroin, cocaine and cannabis being seized, with the estimated street value of around £22,960.

Officers also seized more than £11,000 in cash, with each of the individuals involved offered support by dedicated enforcement support teams.

Police Scotland teammed up with Aberdeen City Council, British Transport Police, Turning Point Scotland and Alcohol and Drugs Action as it carried out the action.

Chief inspector Darren Bruce said: “We all recognise that enforcement alone is not the solution to tackling the issues around drug related harm. That is why it is so important we come together to work out the most effective intervention.

“This work is about people who may need support with addiction, it’s about vulnerable people who need protecting from those who would exploit them. The best way of achieving this is by working in collaboration and offering people the right help, the most appropriate advice and support before their life spirals out of control.”

Detective inspector Brian Buddo, of British Transport Police’s County Lines Taskforce, said: “The results from this intelligence-led operation are testament to the effective joint working between us and our colleagues in Scotland. The arrests and seizures made should serve as a stark warning to county lines offenders – our plain clothes teams will catch you and put you before the courts.

“As well as intercepting harmful drugs before they reach our communities, a key priority of ours is to identify and safeguard children exploited in this crime type to courier drugs via the railway. Across the days of intensive activity spanning the entirety of England and Scotland, we made a number of crucial safeguarding interventions.”