A man and a woman have today (Thursday, 8 April) been sentenced for the supply of Class A and Class B drugs in North Edinburgh.
Moses Irungu (40) was sentenced to four and half years in prison, and Nontuthuzelo Halana (44) was sentenced to 8 months, at the High Court in Aberdeen following an intelligence led operation that led to the seizure of over £350,000 worth of controlled drugs being taken off the streets.
The operation began in May 2020, during when officers searched properties in Edinburgh on Pilton Drive North and Steads Place in Leith. Twenty-two kilograms of amphetamine, two kilograms of heroin and £10,000 cash were recovered.
Irungu was subsequently arrested in connection.
A further search at a property in Ferry Gait Crescent in Muirhouse in June 2020 led to the recovery of items including mixing agent, crack cocaine and over £4,000 cash.
Halana was also traced at this address and arrested in connection with this and the previous seizures.
Both previously appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, 1 March, 2021 where they pled guilty to drug supply offences.
Detective Inspector Gary Reid from the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit said: “We welcome the conviction and today’s sentencing of Irungu and Halana for their involvement in the supply of controlled drugs.
“This intelligence led operation resulted in over £350,000 worth of controlled drugs being seized. We would like to send a clear message to anyone who is involved in the supply of drugs onto the streets of Scotland that if you expect to profit from other people’s misery, expect to be targeted by law enforcement.
“It’s clear Irungu and Halana were operating at a significant level in the drugs supply chain and bringing offenders to court, recovering illegal substances and disrupting the supply chain is our highest priority. No one is untouchable.
“The public continue to play a vital role in assisting our investigations into drug related activity and anyone with any concerns about drugs, or who has information about those involved in the drugs, should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make an anonymous report to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
North Edinburgh Arts and Art Buds Collective will shortly be offering outdoor art sessions for children aged 3-5 years and 6-9 years old, living in the Muirhouse area.
The classes will focus on creative processes inspired by nature, and will be led by Art Buds artists and educators. Classes are free of charge and children attend without parents or carers.
You can visit Art Bud Collective’s website to learn more about what they do:
To help Art Buds and North Edinburgh Arts plan the sessions, we would like to ask you five quick questions. It will take 1-2 minutes to complete this survey.
All responses will be held confidentially and your personal information will be kept safely in line with the current Data Protection regulations. We will not share your information with any third parties.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. We read every response and we really appreciate your time and feedback!
Do you live in Muirhouse, Pilton or Drylaw? Would you like to be in our advisory group?
We are looking for people from the Muirhouse, Pilton and Drylaw areas to join the advisory group for the Lauriston Farm project.
The project seeks to transforming an existing farm into an urban food production and community hub that benefits, supports and regenerates the environment and all those connected to it.
The group will meet once a month to give input, insight, thoughts and advice on different aspects of the farm project as it progresses.
In terms of time commitment, there will be an introductory meeting in late March and monthly meetings thereafter. (maximum one 2hr meeting per month).
If you would be interested in joining the group please e-mail:
The Local Conversation in Muirhouse 2021: Priorities and action for the Local Conversation Project
The Local Conversation in Muirhouse is a group of local residents that have come together to make Muirhouse the best place it can be.
Our neighbourhood vision is:
Muirhouse is a beautiful place, where no one gets left behind and a healthy community thrives:
– Muirhouse is a place to belong where people know the history and feel part of their community. – Muirhouse is a place where no one gets left behind and our elders are included and respected. – Muirhouse is a beautiful place that we are proud to live in and take care of. – Muirhouse is a place with opportunities and activities for our young people.
As with most people and organisations, this lockdown period has provided an opportunity to reflect on our work and really think about how to move forward.
Please answer the survey questions to help us get a better understanding of your priorities and how you or someone you know might like to be involved.
This project belongs to the people of Muirhouse and we have a really great opportunity to work together to create the change you want to see.
Please click the link to help us get a better understanding of your priorities for Muirhouse and how you or someone you know might like to be involved!
Congratulations to North Edinburgh’s very own COVID-19 Response and Recovery Group who won the Inspiring Partnerships Award at last night’s Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.
Community projects and third sector organisations have been short-listed for awards at next month’s Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business awards.
North Edinburgh’s COVID 19 Response and Recovery Group has been nominated for the Inspiring Partnership Award, with Citadel Youth Centre and Leith Rugby Club and Cyrenians and Natwest partnerships also in the running in that category.
The North Edinburgh COVID-19 Response and Recovery Group was formed at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic. Local projects and community organisations joined together in an informal coalition and have been working together ever since to ensure that the community’s most vulnerable people are being supported and protected during the pandemic.
Cyrenians is also nominated in the Local Business Hero, Employer of the Year and and Young Leader of the Year categories.
A Chamber spokesperson explained: “Each year, the Edinburgh Chamber looks forward to hosting its much loved Business Awards ceremony to recognise the successes and achievements of our vibrant business community.
“2020 has been a tough year for all. However, despite the ongoing challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we have watched businesses across the city come together to lead, innovate, collaborate and support those in need.
“We feel it is important to recognise the efforts and dedication shown by organisations over the past year, and so we’re delighted to announce the launch of our first ever virtual business awards.
“Our virtual awards will bring the business community together to showcase the resilience, adaptability and outstanding contribution of our local businesses and professionals, in the most challenging of years.”
Award Categories 2021:
Responsible Business – sponsored by City of Edinburgh Council
Innovation in Business – sponsored by CityFibre
Director of the Year – sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland
Developing the Young Workforce – sponsored by Developing the Young Workforce
Employer of the Year – sponsored by Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP
Young Leader of the Year – sponsored by Thorntons Law LLP
Inspiring Partnership Award – sponsored by Openreach
Excellence in Circular Economy – sponsored by Circular Edinburgh
Export Business of the Year – sponsored by Forth Ports
Service Excellence – sponsored by Heehaw
Local Business Hero – sponsored by TLT LLP
Lifetime Achievement – sponsored by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
The virtual festival, taking place from 1-5th March, offers 18 events over the 5 days, ranging from keynote speakers and panel discussions to networking events and practical workshops. The Chamber will also host its annual Business Awards, to recognise and showcase the resilience, adaptability and outstanding contribution of local businesses and professionals, in the most challenging of years.
The headline sponsor for this year’s Business Festival is St James Quarter.
Martin Perry, Director of Development for St James Quarter, said: “At St James Quarter we’re passionate about doing our part to support the local Edinburgh community – and the businesses within it.
“We’re delighted to partner with the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and look forward to connecting with our peers and neighbours throughout the event.”
The first mass COVID-19 vaccination centres are preparing to go live in Lothian, starting from next week. Centres in Edinburgh and West Lothian will begin vaccinating patients on Monday February 1st as part of Wave Two of the national vaccination programme.
The Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) will play host to a centre capable of vaccinating more than 21,000 people a week through 45 stations.
Strathbrock Partnership Centre in Broxburn, West Lothian, will also open for vaccinations on Monday with six stations, capable of vaccinating 2352 people every week, before the centre moves to Pyramids Business Park on February 15, which will provide 14,280 vaccinations every week at 34 stations.
A drive-through vaccination centre will follow when it is launched on February 10 at Queen Margaret University in East Lothian. It will have 16 stations and be capable of vaccinating 8,000 people a week.
David Small, Director of Primary Care Transformation and executive lead for the vaccination programme, NHS Lothian, said: “NHS Lothian has already vaccinated the vast majority of the first cohort to be prioritised.
“NHS Lothian is right on track with Phase One of the vaccination programme. During that first phase, a total of 3564 residents in care homes across Lothian have been given the vaccine. A further 47,742 health and social care workers and care home staff have also been vaccinated, as well as over 800 hospital inpatients over the age of 80.
“GP practices continue to deliver the injections as fast as their vaccine supplies allow. Thousands of doses of the vaccine have been distributed directly to GP practices across all four regions and they are on track to ensure that over 80% of people over the age of 80 are vaccinated as a priority by 31st January with the rest of this age group completed by 5th February.
“Our teams have done a fantastic job to bring us to this point and I’m really proud of the hard work and effort that has been achieved.
“This is a significant moment as we embark on Wave Two of the largest vaccination programme that has ever been undertaken.
“We need to vaccinate as many people as we possibly can to help save lives and provide protection to help communities get back to normal. We therefore urge people to attend their appointment once they are notified of the details.
“The vaccination programme is one of three critical ways we are all working together to beat this virus, along with the testing programme which helps prevent its spread and the rules in place that we all know to follow. These three planks form our route out of this pandemic.”
NHS Lothian has been working with councils, health and social care partnerships and other partners in recent weeks to ensure the sites are ready.
A team of around 350 volunteer vaccinators, with a vast array of experience from a huge number of clinical roles in Lothian, has also been created to work in the mass vaccination sites. They will be supported by around 100 administrative staff.
The centres are the first of a total of 15 to be rolled out across Lothian.
On February 15, a vaccination centre with 32 stations will be created at Edinburgh Park in the former Royal Bank of Scotland building, as well as another venue at the Royal Highland Showground, near Edinburgh Airport will open in March.
Centres will be run on smaller scale in more community hubs in Midlothian Community Hospital and East Lothian Community Hospital as well as health and partnership centres in Sighthill, Pennywell, Craigmillar, Leith and Gracemount in Edinburgh, and Strathbrock and Howden in West Lothian.
People aged between 75-79 and those most clinically vulnerable will be given appointments to be vaccinated by their GP, while those aged between 70-74 and 65 to 69 will be invited into mass vaccination sites and smaller community venues for their injections.
Patients are being urged to keep their first appointment in order to provide protection to as many people, as quickly as possible even if their appointment venue may not be the one that is closest to where they live
Smaller community clinics will deliver vaccinations in the local area for people with complex needs or who, for other reasons, absolutely cannot and would not be expected to travel to a mass centre.
If patients absolutely cannot keep the appointment they have been given, they are being asked to call the COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013 to rearrange their appointment. If they are aged 75 and over, they should phone their GP practice to rearrange your appointment.
Mr Small added: “A vaccination appointment, like any other medical appointment, is considered essential during the COVID-19 global pandemic. When patients receive an appointment, we really would urge them to keep it, even if it is at a centre which is not closest to their home. We need to move fast.
“I would also ask patients to stay safe by following the Scottish Government guidance currently in place, by wearing a mask and maintaining physical distancing as they travel to and from vaccination centres across Lothian.
“Parking will be available around some venues and public transport operators are all following Scottish Government transport guidance for safe travel.
“When you arrive at your appointment, make sure to wear a mask and bring your appointment letter with you to avoid any unnecessary delays.”
