Tag: cocaine

Sixth man sentenced for involvement in county lines drug network

A 43-year-old man has been sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh today in connection with the supply of controlled drugs.

He is the sixth man to be sentenced as part of Operation Galvanize after officers targeted addresses in Edinburgh and London in a county lines operation on Tuesday, 5th September, 2024.

Imer Quashi has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison for his involvement in a county lines drug supply network within the city of Edinburgh known as the ‘Tommy’ line.

Several men were employed in this criminal enterprise delivering drugs to locations throughout the city.

Detective Sergeant Mark Walker said: “This group delivered drugs on demand and didn’t care that their packages were destroying lives and impacting on families and the local community, all they cared about was profit.

“There is no doubt that the disruption of this group had a significant impact on cocaine supply in Edinburgh and we remain committed to disrupting and destroying drug supply chains wherever we find them.

“Operation Galvanize was a cross-border operation which illustrated the benefit of close partnership working and sharing information. This collaborative working reassures the public we are in this together to dismantle the criminal gangs.”

If anyone has any concerns regarding the abuse of controlled drugs, or anyone who may be involved in the supply of drugs, they are urged to contact Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Drug dealer jailed

A man has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison in relation to drugs offences in Edinburgh.

Ardit Mazrreku, 27, was sentenced today at the High Court for being concerned in drug dealing in the capital in September 2024.

On 19 September 2024, officers acting on intelligence, officers searched the property on Ratcliffe Terrace in the city during the morning of Wednesday, 25 September and recovered cannabis and cocaine with an estimated street value of £165,000.

Sergeant Mark Walker said: “Police Scotland is committed to removing illegal substances from our communities and we will take all measures to disrupt those involved in the drug trade.

“This arrest and conviction underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.

“Recoveries such as this rely on information from people who do not tolerate the scourge of drugs in their neighbourhoods.

“Anyone with concerns about drugs in their community can contact us via 101, or calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Two arrested and charged following Wester Drylaw drugs raid

Class A drugs with a potential street value of over £37,000 have been recovered in North Edinburgh.

Today – Friday, 14 June, 2024 – police searched a premises under warrant on Wester Drylaw Drive, after intelligence was recieved that the property was involved in the supply of Class A drugs.

A substantial quantity of cocaine was sezied and a six figure sum of cash was also recovered from the property.

A 27-year-old man and a 28-year-old were arrested and charged in connection with drug offences. They were released on an undertaking to appear at court at a later date.

Police Scotland is committed to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy, and will continue to remove illegal substances from communities.​

Anyone with concerns about drugs in their community can contact us via 101, or calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police tackle drugs misuse in local pubs

Local police are issuing advice to licensees following a recent initiative designed to identify cocaine misuse at pubs. Officers from the Drylaw Safer Neighbourhood Team, working in partnership with the licensed trade, visited 16 premises in the area over recent weekends and found evidence of cocaine use within the toilets of 12 pubs.

Inspector Mark Rennie of Lothian and Borders Police said: “The initiative was well received and licensees and staff were given advice on basic measures they could use to counter the problem.

“Our intention now is to widen the initiative and also do follow-up visits to premises over the next month to provide staff with information, and support them in their efforts to prevent the misuse of drugs within their premises.

“We will also be distributing posters to raise the awareness of customers of the direct health and personal safety risks associated with alcohol and cocaine misuse.”

Anyone with information as to drug dealing in or around licensed premises can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.