Two men and a woman have been arrested and charged after drugs with an estimated value of around £364,000 were recovered from a property in Gilmerton.
A warrant was executed in the Combe Cruik area on Tuesday, 3 March.
During the search PD Freddie (pictured), an eight-year-old Springer Spaniel specialist drugs search dog, indicated to officers that drugs were concealed in a room.
Officers recovered 3.64kg of diamorphine with an estimated street value of around £364,000 and a five figure sum of cash.
The men, both aged 32, and a woman aged 36, were arrested and charged in connection with drug offences. They were due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday (Wednesday, 4 March).
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Lumsden said: “This was a significant recovery which highlights our continued commitment to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce, and the country’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy.
“Drugs cause misery in our community and the public has an important role to play in helping us to take action against those responsible for the manufacture and sale of illegal substances.
“Anyone with information or concerns about drugs should contact us on 101 or make a call to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
A man has been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in multiple large-scale cannabis cultivations across Scotland.
Afrim Krasniqi, 29, pled guilty in relation to 12 cannabis cultivations identified at both residential and commercial properties in the Glasgow, Edinburgh, Penicuik, Aberdeen, Ayrshire and Angus areas.
The cultivations had an estimated street value of up to £3.8million.
He pled guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, 16 October, 2025, and was sentenced at High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday, 25 November.
Detective Constable Karen Maxwell said: “The scale of this criminal operation was substantial, and Krasniqi is now facing the consequences of his actions.
“This case demonstrates our commitment to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy in identifying and dismantling organised networks involved in the supply and production of drugs.
“This type of criminality is not a victimless crime. Organised crime groups often rely on the exploitation of vulnerable people to support their activity, and it can cause extensive damage to the properties they operate from, as well as have a detrimental impact on the communities within which they are active.”
Anyone with concerns about drug-related activity in their area is encouraged to contact Police Scotland on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee highlight a series of concerns with the Bill and say it will require significant amendments, should it proceed to Stage 2.
The Member’s Bill, introduced by Douglas Ross MSP, seeks to give people diagnosed with drug or alcohol addiction a statutory right to receive treatment from a relevant professional.
The Committee recognises the strength of evidence received throughout its Stage1 scrutiny which revealed a high level of dissatisfaction with availability and access to support services for those experiencing harm from drug or alcohol misuse.
However, the Committee’s Stage 1 report also highlights widespread stakeholder concerns that the Bill’s focus is too narrow and could lead to a deprioritising of prevention and early intervention when tackling harmful drug and alcohol use.
The Committee says it has heard substantial evidence of the significant strain those working in drug and alcohol services are currently under and says the Bill could potentially exacerbate pressure on the workforce and resources.
Fears that the three-week statutory deadline in the Bill could compromise treatment quality, limit choice, and increase relapse risk are also highlighted. The Committee raises concerns that this treatment deadline could end up putting further pressure on over-stretched resources.
There are also concerns that the costs of implementation set out in the Financial Memorandum are a significant underestimate and the Committee concludes that the Bill may result in resources being diverted from addressing the needs of individuals in order to achieve legal compliance with the Bill.
The Committee points to ‘strong evidence’ that the right to treatment outlined in the legislation could set a dangerous precedent and expectation for a similar legal right to treatment for other conditions.
Further concerns are also raised by the Committee that an unintended consequence of the Bill could be a significant rise in litigation, in cases where health services are unable to meet the legal rights set out in the Bill.
Stakeholders’ doubts about whether legal rights alone can overcome cultural, capacity, and resource barriers, and concerns over proposed enforcement routes as being too costly and complex are highlighted by the Committee.
There are also concerns about the way the Bill might interact with the existing legal framework governing the rights of people suffering harm from alcohol or drug use.
Should it proceed to Stage 2, the Committee calls on Douglas Ross to consider further ways of ensuring that the Bill works in tandem, rather than in conflict, with the existing policy and legal framework.
Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said: “Our Committee recognises the long-standing and serious harms that drug and alcohol misuse can have on individuals and families across Scotland.
“The number of people suffering from drug and/or alcohol use in Scotland is still far too high and our evidence made it clear that more must be done to tackle these issues.
“However, a majority of our committee do not believe this Bill is the correct vehicle to effectively support those suffering harm from alcohol or drug use.
“Our report highlights our serious concerns with the Bill in its current form and it is because of those concerns that a majority of our committee is unable to recommend to Parliament that the Bill should proceed to Stage 2.
“We acknowledge the Bill’s aim of helping those suffering from drug and alcohol misuse. However, our evidence has highlighted that the Bill in its current form could negatively impact individuals who are suffering and put even greater strain on services that are already deeply stretched.
“On behalf of the Committee, I am grateful to everyone who has provided evidence and informed our scrutiny of the general principles of this Bill.”
Douglas Ross MSP responded: “Disappointing that Holyrood’s Health Committee has said the Right to Recovery Bill should fall.
“But Parliament doesn’t have to agree. This Bill would guarantee a legal right to treatment. With lives lost every day, I hope MSPs back further work on it.”
Other key findings in the report:
the Committee notes concerns that the Bill places a particular emphasis on abstinence-based types of treatment over harm reduction, rather than focusing on what is best for each individual
the Committee voices concerns that the Bill could prove exclusionary, in that individuals who have not received a diagnosis of addiction would not be able to exercise the right to access treatment conferred by the Bill
the Committee notes a range of concerns about the language and definitions used in the Bill. For example, the Committee highlights suggestions that a more appropriate alternative term to “addiction” would be “substance use disorder”, as defined by the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”
the Committee is concerned by the Bill’s lack of acknowledgement of the crucial role families and carers play in supporting individuals, the role of multi-disciplinary teams, and regrets that the Bill makes no direct reference to the critical role of independent advocacy.
Public Support for Right to Recovery Ignored
Annmarie Ward of FAVOR UK (Faces and Voices of Recovery) said:We have published a detailed statement responding to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s Stage 1 report on the Right to Recovery Bill.
“The statement sets out why the Committee’s decision ignores overwhelming public support, repeats long-debunked myths, and privileges government-funded institutions over families and lived experience.
“Scotland remains the drug death capital of Europe. Nearly 80 percent of consultation respondents supported the Bill, yet the Committee has chosen to defend the status quo rather than recognise the urgent need for enforceable recovery rights. This deserves immediate scrutiny.”
Funding allocated to early intervention and women’s support services
Services helping women affected by drugs and preventing substance use by young people are to benefit from more than £2 million funding.
Minister for Drugs Policy Maree Todd announced the support during a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the National Records of Scotland latest statistics on drug misuse deaths. These showed a decrease of 13% to 1,017 compared to the previous year.
Recognising additional challenges faced by women who use drugs, £1.1 million has been awarded to Aberlour Children’s Charity for its perinatal support and recovery services. In Glasgow, £750,000 will be delivered through the Corra Foundation to make it easier for women affected by substance use to access services.
The ‘Winning Scotland’s Planet Youth’ initiative, which aims to create an environment that consistently supports young people to make healthy choices, has been allocated £750,000 to continue its work. NRS statistics for last year noted a drop in the number of deaths among young people from drugs, with 34 under-25s compared with 58 in 2023.
Ms Todd said: “I want to express my deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the 1,017 people who lost their lives to drugs in 2024.
“Our National Mission on Drugs has delivered a number of positive developments, including widening access to life-saving naloxone kits to reverse overdoses and creating more residential rehabilitation beds. It is welcome that we have seen progress with the number of deaths at the lowest level since 2017, but these tragic drug deaths figures remind us, however, that there is much more to do.
“To that end, we are providing record funding of more than £160 million for alcohol and drugs in 2025-26. We will also accelerate the delivery of new initiatives, such as the drug checking pilot project. And subject to the Scottish Parliament’s agreement, we will be maintaining funding beyond next year to address harm caused by drugs and intensively support recovery.
“While there is nothing we can do to bring back those whose lives have been so tragically cut short, nor to ease the unimaginable grief that their loved-ones must feel, we will continue to do all we can to end the devastating impacts of drugs in Scotland.”
Two people have been arrested in connection with drugs offences in Edinburgh.
Around 11.30am on Friday, 8 August, 2025, officers stopped and searched a 21-year-old man in Hailesland Grove, who was found in possession of cannabis.
Further enquiries led officers to a car parked nearby where officers recovered quantities of Cocaine and Heroin. The estimated value of the drugs is more than £74,000.
Officers also searched two addresses in the Wester Hailes and Pilton areas of Edinburgh with a quantity of cash being recovered from one of the addresses.
A man and woman, both aged 21, have been arrested and charged in connection with drugs offences.
They are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 11 August, 2025.
Detective Sergeant John Dunn said: “We work tirelessly to remove illegal drugs from communities every day and remain committed to disrupting the activities of those who supply drugs.
“We cannot tackle this issue alone and would urge the public to continue supporting us in building intelligence about the possession and supply of drugs by contacting Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Officers investigating the violent incidents in the East and West of the country have made two further arrests, bringing the total to 44.
Following the recovery of a firearm in the Roseburn Path area of Edinburgh on Wednesday, 11 June, 2025, a 25-year-old man was subsequently arrested and charged in connection and was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, Friday, 13 June.
Officers also executed warrants this morning at addresses in South Queensferry and Edinburgh.
A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with fire-raising of a vehicle on Peacocktail Close in Edinburgh on Friday, 16 May. He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 16 June.
A 21-year-old man has also been reported to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with wilful fire-raisings at two properties in Glasgow and one in Shotts in April.
A dedicated team of officers from our Specialist Crime Division, with support from local divisions across the country, continue to carry out extensive enquiries to gather vital evidence and reassure the public with intelligence-led patrols.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “Our continued activity and arrests show our commitment to targeting organised crime and bringing those responsible to justice.
“We continue to investigate and follow a number of positive lines of enquiry. The support and response from the public has been excellent, and I am grateful for the assistance given to us and that continued support from local communities is crucial as we progress our enquiries.
“If you know anything that could assist our ongoing investigation, please do the right thing and speak to us.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0562 of Friday, 21 March, 2025. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
A further arrest has been made as detectives continue to investigate a number of linked incidents in the West and East of Scotland, bringing the total to 42.
Officers executed a warrant at an address in Glasgow on the evening of Thursday, 29 May, 2025.
A 20-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with fire-raising at a house on Drumchapel Road, Glasgow, on Tuesday, 13 May. He appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday, 30 May.
Extensive enquiries remain ongoing and a dedicated team of officers from our Specialist Crime Division, with support from local divisions across the country, continue to work together to gather vital evidence and reassure the public with intelligence-led patrols.
Over the course of the investigation so far, more than 8,000 homes have been visited and more than 1,600 vehicles have been stopped, as officers continue to gather information.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “I want to be clear that violence will not be tolerated, and we will not stop until we bring those responsible to justice.
“We are still following positive lines of enquiry, and this arrest highlights our continued resolve to target organised crime.
“The support of our communities remains vital, and I want to again express my sincere thanks to the public for their continued help and information so far.
“If you know anything that could assist our ongoing investigation, please do the right thing and speak to us.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0562 of Friday, 21 March, 2025. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
Detectives investigating a number of linked incidents in the West and East of Scotland arrested six people yesterday following executive action in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire.
This brings the total number of arrests made during this investigation to 32.
On Friday, 9 May, 2025, officers from the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, assisted by firearms officers, executed warrants and searched six properties in the Barlanark, Maryhill, Hamiltonhill, Milton of Campsie and Wishaw areas.
In Glasgow, two men, aged 31 and 26, were arrested in connection with conspiracy to murder and directing serious and organised crime.
A 36-year-old man was also arrested in connection with conspiracy to murder.
A 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with drug offences and a 57-year-old man was arrested in connection with proceeds of crime offences.
In Wishaw, a 42-year-old man was arrested in connection with involvement in serious and organised crime.
A number of items, including a quantity of class B drugs and approximately £46,000 in cash, were also seized during the operation.
Extensive enquiries remain ongoing.
A dedicated team of officers from Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division and the local division continue to work together to gather vital evidence and reassure the public with intelligence-led patrols.
Detectives investigating a number of linked incidents in the West & East of Scotland have arrested six people following action in Glasgow & North Lanarkshire. This brings the total number of arrests made during this investigation to 32.
Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry said: “These arrests continue to highlight the hard work and dedication of officers to target those responsible for these attacks.
“While the number of incidents has continued to decrease since the start of this investigation, I want to reiterate that violence will not be tolerated and will not stop until we bring those responsible for this criminality to justice.
“We are working tirelessly to build cases and are following a number of significant lines of enquiry.
“The support of our communities is absolutely vital when it comes to tackling serious organised crime, preventing violence and getting justice for victims and I want to again thank the public for their help and information so far.
“If you know anything about these dangerous and abhorrent acts, please do the right thing and speak to us.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0562 of Friday, 21 March, 2025. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
POLICE investigating a number of linked violent incidents in the East and West of the country are continuing in their efforts to target those responsible. A further four people have been arrested in the past week bringing the total to twenty four.
On Friday, 2 May, Glasgow officers carried out warrants at four properties in the north of the city and Govan and arrested two men, aged 20 and 32.
The 20-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with a wilful fire-raising on Wellington Road, Bishopbriggs on Tuesday, 8 April, 2025.
The 32-year-old man was arrested and charged with a breach of peace linked to serious and organised crime in connection with an incident which took place at Castlebay Street, Glasgow on Wednesday, 16 April, 2025.
Both men are due to appear in Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday, 5 May, 2025.
This is in addition to two arrests which took place on Balmore Road in the early hours of Thursday, 1 May. Officers carrying out pro-active patrols in the area spotted two men acting suspiciously. A vehicle was then stopped and searched and two men, aged 18 and 43, were arrested and charged. Both appeared in Glasgow Sheriff Court that same day.
A number of warrants were also executed in the east of the country on Friday, 2 May, and a number of items including cash and mobiles were seized. Enquiries remain ongoing.
Meanwhile, local officers continue to reassure the public with intelligence-led patrols to disrupt the activities of criminals in our communities.
Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry said: “The high number of arrests made during this investigation highlights the ongoing work that officers have been doing to target those responsible for these attacks.
“While the number of incidents has decreased since we started this investigation I want to make it clear that we will not stop until we bring those responsible for this criminality to justice.
“The support of our communities is absolutely vital when it comes to tackling serious organised crime, preventing violence and getting justice for victims. Your information really can make a difference.
“If you know anything about who is responsible for these dangerous and abhorrent acts, please do the right thing and speak to us.”
Anyone who can assist our enquiries is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0562 of Friday, 21 March, 2025.
Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
North Edinburgh Arts presents the first screening for more than 40 years of Heroin, a series of three films by Peter Carr made in North Edinburgh in 1983.
Originally shown over successive nights on prime time national UK television, Heroin is an unflinching fly on the wall glimpse at an often forgotten part of Edinburgh’s social history.
As poverty, crime and drug use in Scotland’s capital was ripping forgotten communities apart, Peter Carr was introduced to Edinburgh’s hidden underbelly by co-founder of the Gateway Exchange, Jimmy Boyle.
Boyle also introduced Carr to SHADA – Support Help and Advice for Drug Addiction – the grassroots organisation set up by what Carr calls “two remarkable women” – Heather Black and Morag McLean – as a lifeline and support network for drug users.
This became the basis of Heroin, which over its three episodes reveals a powerful and moving portrait of a community surviving in the face of institutional neglect and contempt from local authorities who would rather keep it out of view.
After four decades, Peter Carr revisits North Edinburgh for the screenings of his films to take part in a unique event by, for and about North Edinburgh.
Each screening will be followed by a conversation between key figures around the making of Heroin and those around North Edinburgh then and now.
Heroin ‘Uncut’ – The Films of Peter Carr and the Edinburgh Community Stories Behind Them
North Edinburgh Arts
MacMillan Hub
12c MacMillan Square
Edinburgh EH4 4AB
Heroin 1 followed by Irvine Welsh in conversation with ZoëBlack – April 23 – 6.30-8.30pm.
Heroin 2 followed by Dr Roy Robertson in conversation with Victoria Burns – April 24 – 6.30-8.30pm.
Heroin 3 followed by Peter Carr in conversation with Sarah Drummond – April 25 – 6.30-8.30pm.
Running time of each film is 50 minutes, followed by a short break and discussion.
An exhibition of production images from Heroin by Granada TV stills photographer Stewart Darby runs at North Edinburgh Arts alongside Heroin ‘Uncut’, from April 23 to May 17 2025.
A programme for Heroin ‘Uncut’ features a new essay by Peter Carr reflecting on the making of his films alongside Stewart Darby’s images from Heroin.
Heroin ‘Uncut’ is coordinated and produced by Zoë Black, Victoria Burns, Neil Cooper, Sarah Drummond, Graham Fitzpatrick and Kate Wimpress in collaboration with North Edinburgh Arts and Screen Education Edinburgh.
With thanks to Laura Alderman, Alice Betts and Genevieve Kay-Gourlay at North Edinburgh Film Festival, Willie Black, Jimmy Boyle, Morvern Cunningham, Freda Darby and the Darby family, Malcolm Dickson at Street Level Photoworks, Laura Hoffman, Judith Jones and Stephen Kelly at granadaland.org, Jordan at ITV plc, Alan McCredie, Dr. Roy Robertson, Emma Welsh, Irvine Welsh, Bob Winton.
Special thanks to all staff, volunteers and board members of North Edinburgh Arts and Screen Education Edinburgh who made this event happen.
Extra special thanks to Peter Carr.
Heroin was originally produced by Granada Television and screened on the ITV network on November 7th, 8thand 9th1983. All films and photographs are sole copyright of ITV plc, and are shown under licence.
Heroin ‘Uncut’ is dedicated to the memory of Heather Black, Morag McLean and all those friends, neighbours and loved ones who took part in the Heroin films. Though they may no longer be with us, their stories live on.
