Police carry out drugs raids

TEAMS of Grampian Police officers carried out a series of early morning raids in Aberdeenshire this week, seizing illegal drugs including heroin, cannabis, amphetamines, M-Cat, cocaine and diazepam. In excess of £2,500 in cash was also recovered.

Twelve drugs search warrants were executed in Inverurie, Westhill, Huntly, Ellon and Fraserburgh, following intelligence received from local communities.

Five people will be reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with drug and other offences, and a number of referrals have been made to the Community Substance Misuse Service.

The raids were part of Operation Hotspur, a unique collaborative approach to tackling illegal drugs in Aberdeenshire launched in November, which brings together Grampian Police, Aberdeenshire Council, NHS Grampian and the Scottish Prison Service.

Detective Constable Craig Dunbar said: "Operation Hotspur was launched last November with a new two-pronged approach to tackling illegal drugs and the associated issues in Aberdeenshire.

"Clearly drugs raids play an important role but the operation is about more than that. It’s also about working with our partners through the drug and alcohol partnership to break the cycle of offending by dealing with the root causes of drug use.

"That is why it is particularly pleasing that a number of people have decided to take up the services on offer by Community Substance Misuse Service to help them break free from addiction."

* Anyone who has information relating to drugs or any other crime in their area can contact Grampian Police on 0845 600 5 700 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.