County Lines group disrupted in Aberdeen
Five people have been arrested and convicted for their part in drugs offences and organised crime in Aberdeen.
In 2020, officers from North East Division’s Organised Crime Unit launched Operation Dismantle, targeting a criminal group involved in county lines and organised crime.
Over a six-month period, between February and July 2020, officers pieced together evidence of a county line supply of crack cocaine and heroin from London to Aberdeen, at addresses predominantly throughout Aberdeen City Centre and Rosemount.
Donovan Gilbert Smith (27), was arrested and charged as the culmination of the operation, from an address in Hornchurch, London on Tuesday, 7 July 2020. North East Division’s Organised Crime Unit Officers, assisted by teams from the Metropolitan Police traced Smith at the address along with approximately £55,000 in cash and proceeds of crime in excess of £100,000. Smith was the man orchestrating the county line.
His associates, assisting in his operations, were earlier arrested and included Zamar Green (21) and Gavion Hugh Smith (25). On 31 March, 2020, Green was traced in a property on Charlotte Street, Aberdeen along with dealer quantities of heroin, crack cocaine and a four figure sum of cash.
At the time Green appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and was prohibited from returning to Scotland. He has since been sentenced to two years imprisonment for his involvement in the operation.
On 8 June, 2020, following an intelligence-led part of the operation a drug search warrant was executed at an address on Union Terrace, Aberdeen where dealer quantities of heroin, crack cocaine and a four figure sum of cash were recovered. At the time Gavion Smith appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and was prohibited from returning to Scotland. He has since been sentenced to three years imprisonment for his involvement in the operation.
A further two people, one woman, aged 22 and one man, aged 30 were arrested and charged with Class A drug supply offences. Both these people were couriers, one in London and the other in Aberdeen. The 22-year-old woman was given a community payback order and the 30-year-old man was sentenced to serve 290 days imprisonment.
Donovan Smith has been remanded in custody since his arrest in July 2020. On 12 April, 2023, he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to his involvement and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
Detective Chief Inspector Karen Main said: “This investigation has disrupted a supply line of drugs from London to Aberdeen and reinforces our commitment to weeding out those involved in county lines drug supply. Illegal drugs cause misery and harm to our communities and we will continue to use all available resources to ensure they are removed from our streets and that those involved in pedalling them are apprehended.”
If anyone has concerns around county lines or drug dealing in their community, please call Police Scotland via 101 and report your concerns.
