Drugs worth almost £5m seized by Police Scotland
Police Scotland seized illegal drugs with a street value of almost £5m through enforcement between April and June, a report shows.
Substances including cannabis, cocaine and heroin with a total estimated street value of up to £4.7m were recovered in separate operations outlined in the national service’s 2022-23 Quarter 1 Performance Report.
Examples of action reported include:
• The recovery of heroin and crack cocaine with an estimated street value of around £115,000 during the search of a property in Aberdeen
• A vehicle stop in the Lanarkshire area which resulted in the seizure of 2.7Kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of £80,000
• Approximately 6kg of heroin and cocaine recovered by Roads Policing officers following a vehicle stop in North Lanarkshire
• A quantity of cocaine with an estimated street value of £1 million seized during a property search in the Dundee area.
The report also outlines a number of arrests in relation to the operations.
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor QPM said: “We know the terrible toll of drugs deaths in Scotland and the action described in this performance report underlines our commitment to reducing the harm caused to individuals, families and communities.
“Policing has a vital role in preventing drugs from reaching our streets and bringing those engaged in serious and organised crime to justice and that will always be a key duty and priority for Police Scotland.”
The performance report also outlines progress on the national roll-out of Naloxone, following a decision to train and equip all operational officers with the life-saving nasal spray.
DCC Taylor added: “Preservation of life lies right at the heart of policing. The national roll-out of Naloxone can assist in our positive legal duty to improve the lives of our communities.”
Police Scotland’s 2022-23 Quarter 1 Performance Report provides evidence of progress against strategic outcomes set out in our Annual Police Plan, using management information and context to provide insight into our response, challenges and success.
The document illustrates that reported online crime is increasing while a long-term rise in reports of sexual offending continues, with the national service determined to support victims to come forward.
DCC Taylor said: “Our performance reports provide important insights into the changing policing needs of our communities and how we are responding to them.
“We have worked hard over many years to deliver a better response to gender-based violence and are resolute in our commitment to build on that progress.
“We are determined to do more to ensure women and girls have confidence to come forward in the knowledge they will be treated with dignity and respect by professional officers who will work to get the best outcomes for victims.
“We are also building our capability to keep people safe online under our Policing in a Digital World programme.”
The 2022-23 Quarter 1 Performance Report will be presented at the Scottish Police Authority Policing Performance Committee on Tuesday, 11 October 2022. The report is available here.
