Man arrested and charged following joint operation in Aberdeenshire and Merseyside

A 44-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a County Lines operation in Aberdeenshire and Merseyside.

The arrest was made after officers carried out searches at five properties across Aberdeen, Liverpool and Tarves, Aberdeenshire, on Tuesday, 25 June, 2024.

Heroin with an estimated street value of around £9,000 and approximately £15,000 cash was recovered over the course of the joint investigation.

The man is due to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Thursday, 27 June, 2024.

Detective Sergeant Sam Harris said: "We are committed to working with local and national partners to support those who are vulnerable and tackle serious and organised crime.

"This investigation underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country's Serious Organised Crime Strategy."

Inspector Stephen Morris from Merseyside Police said: “Merseyside Police, through Project Medusa, regularly deploys to other force areas to target county lines, and this joint investigation with Police Scotland shows our commitment to tackling serious and organised crime across borders. We will continue to relentlessly target those crime groups who cowardly exploit vulnerable people in our communities.”