Police Scotland seizes £14million worth of drugs in record week

Police Scotland has seized drugs worth a combined value of almost £14million in the run up to Christmas, marking a record week for recoveries across the country.

One of the largest busts of cocaine, worth more than £8million, was made when officers executed a warrant in Bellshill on Thursday, 11 December. 

Significant quantities of ecstasy, amphetamine and mephedrone were also seized in Fraserburgh, worth more than £3.5million, on Friday, 12 December. 

In Perthshire, officers acting on intelligence recovered cocaine worth £1.2million on Thursday, 18 December, from an address in the Dunning area. On Sunday, 14 December, £560,000 worth of cocaine was also discovered at a business premises in Bridge of Earn.

Cocaine and cannabis, worth more than £500,000, were found in the loft of a property after a warrant was executed on Thursday, 18 December, in the Lhanbryde area of Elgin.

Officers stopped a car on the M74 near Moffat on Wednesday, 17 December, and a quantity of cocaine, estimated to be worth £175,000, was recovered from inside.

Fifteen people have been arrested and charged in total in connection with drugs offences following the recoveries.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: “These significant seizures mark one of our most successful weeks for removing drugs from the streets of Scotland, and they will have a huge impact on the cocaine supply across the country.

“Policing does not stop just because it’s Christmas time and we remain relentless in our fight against drugs.

“Controlled substances are dangerous and cause real harm to individuals, families and communities. Working closely with our partners, we remain focused on targeting individuals and organised crime groups, who selfishly exploit vulnerable people for their own financial gain.

"This work also underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy. 

“Action like this is only possible with 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.”