Police seize £80m worth of drugs across Scotland in one year

Drugs with a street value of almost £80m were seized across Scotland this year amid a crackdown on organised crime.

Numerous high-value cannabis cultivations were raided by Police Scotland in the past 12 months, including the largest found in Scotland.

The record cannabis crop in Kirkcaldy, worth an estimated £12m, was seized in June, while in the same month, around 2,000 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of £3.2m were seized from a warehouse in Cowdenbeath

In June, cannabis worth more than £1.3m was discovered in Greenock, with five men aged between 17 and 50 arrested and charged.

One of the largest cocaine busts in Scotland, worth £8m, occurred in December, a month which saw drugs worth a total of more than £24m discovered.

On December 11, cocaine worth more than £8m was discovered when officers executed a warrant in Bellshill.

Efforts to break an organised crime ring in Aberdeen led to the recovery of heroin and cocaine worth more than £1.3m, with more than 20 arrests connected with it in August.

In March, cannabis worth around £1m was recovered in the city, leading to arrest warrants being issued.

Four people were arrested following an operation in West Lothian in February, where around £1m worth of cocaine was recovered.

Arrests have also been made in connection with many of the year’s seizures and inquiries remain ongoing in the other cases.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “We work tirelessly every day to disrupt drug supply and protect communities and those affected by illegal drugs.

“These seizures, many of which were significant in scale and value, highlight the ongoing work that is put in to tackling drug crime across the country and bring those responsible to justice.

“We act on intelligence and use all available resources at our disposal to disrupt the production and supply of controlled drugs.

“Working closely with our partners, we remain focused on targeting individuals and organised crime groups who exploit vulnerable people solely for financial gain.

“The seizure of controlled drugs at this scale shows our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.

“Action like this is only possible through the continued support of our communities.

“Anyone with information or concerns about drugs should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“I can assure you that you will be listened to and the information you provide could prove vital in helping us identify those involved in criminality.”