Weekend raids in Granton and Wardieburn
Police in Edinburgh have launched Operation Eagle, a new initiative to tackle drug crime across the city and help drug users find appropriate support.
As a result of the ‘Your View Counts’ survey, communities in the Capital identified drugs as one of the top priorities they want police to address and Operation Eagle was devised to investigate drug offences and signpost addicts to rehabilitation services.
The campaign commenced on Friday (3rd February) with intelligence-led searches of five properties in Rannoch Road, Longstone Street, Oxgangs Park, Granton Medway and Wardieburn Street West. During this activity heroin, cocaine, cannabis and diazepam with a value of £9500 were recovered along with £2400 in cash.
One man and two women aged 36, 47 and 38 were arrested and charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act and will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today. Another woman aged 28 was arrested on warrant and he will also appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Further enforcement action as part of Operation Eagle will take place whenever intelligence is received and communities are urged to come forward with information that can help tackle drug crime in their area.
Detective Chief Inspector Alwyn Bell from Edinburgh CID said: “The sale of drugs is often linked to serious and organised crime, both of which are priorities for Police Scotland and Edinburgh Division to tackle.
“The intelligence we gather to tackle drug crime is vital and it is because of the overwhelming support of the public in coming forward with information that we have been able to establish Operation Eagle.
“We will not tolerate drug offences at any level and will continue to work alongside our communities to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”
Superintendent Lesley Clark added: “Our communities have made it abundantly clear that they will not tolerate drug crime and drug dealers in their area and we have listened.
“Operation Eagle will utilise the information we receive from the public to carry out further enforcement activity across the city, making it even more difficult for those involved in these offences to evade us.
“However, we know that to truly address this issue, enforcement activity must be supported with specialist assistance to those who have a dependency on drugs and by working alongside our relevant partner agencies, we can direct substance users and addicts to a range of services that can help them break the cycle of offending.”
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