Nine people have been charged following a police operation in Edinburgh and Falkirk which has resulted in plants with a potential value of at least £1 million being seized from private rented properties.
The eight men, aged from 17 to 35, and a woman aged 39, appeared at Edinburgh and Falkirk Sheriff Courts between 17th November and 16th December 2020.
Detective Inspector Paul Greig said: “This operation to investigate the cultivation of drugs in properties highlights our determination to tackle drug activity at all levels. It sends a clear message that drugs have no place in our communities.
“We would like to thank the public for their assistance with our enquiries which are ongoing. Officers will continue to speak with members of the public and work in the community and alongside specialist teams to detect and deter this type of criminality.
“I would also urge landlords in the private rented sector to make sure they carry out thorough checks on prospective tenants. In particular be aware of tenants who are willing to pay in cash, and make regular checks on your property.
“Anyone with information about drugs, including cultivation and supply, is asked to speak to officers if they see them out and about, to call Police Scotland on 101, or make a report anonymously through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Further information and advice for private sector landlords is available via the Police Scotland website:
The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland increased by 6%, from 1,187 in 2018 to 1,264 in 2019, representing the highest number since records began in 1996, according to statistics published by National Records of Scotland today.
Other key findings show that of all drug-related deaths in 2019:
Nearly 7 in 10 were male.
Over two thirds were aged 35 – 54.
Three-quarters occurred in the following five health board areas: 404 in Greater Glasgow & Clyde, 163 in Lanarkshire, 155 in Lothian, 118 in Tayside and 108 in Ayrshire & Arran.
Heroin and morphine were implicated in more deaths than in any previous year, and over half of the total.
Three-quarters of the deaths occurred in five health board areas. Greater Glasgow and Clyde had 404 deaths, Lanarkshire 163, Lothian 155, Tayside 118 and Ayrshire and Arran 108.
Scotland’s drug-death rate was higher than those reported for all the EU countries, and was approximately 3½ times that of the UK as a whole.
Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services said: “2019 saw the highest number of registered drug related deaths in Scotland since reporting began over 20 years ago. The figure of 1,264 deaths is an increase of 77 on 2018.”
Edinburgh the number of drug related deaths has risen by 1, from 95 to 96; in East Lothian the number of drug related deaths has remained the same at 18, in West Lothian the number of drug related deaths dropped by 2 from 25 to 23 and in Midlothian the number of drug related deaths has risen from by 4 from 14 to 18.
In the last 10 years the number of drug related deaths has more than doubled in Lothian from 73 deaths in 2010 to 155 deaths in 2019.
The number of drug related deaths from heroin in Lothian has risen from 56 in 2018 to 69 in 2019.
Drug related deaths from Benzodiazepine rose from 94 in 2018 to 109 in 2019, with “street” Benzodiazepine drug related deaths rising from 69 to 85, of which Etizolam rose from 42 to 72.
Drug related deaths from cocaine rose from 51 in 2018 to 62 in 2019 and the number of alcohol related deaths dropped from 25 in 2018 to 22 in 2019.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“Every single drug death in Scotland is a tragedy and it is deeply concerning that the number of drug related deaths has risen year on year.
“Cuts to drug rehab beds and addiction programmes by SNP Ministers have been counterproductive in reducing drug related deaths in Scotland.
“The Scottish Conservatives have called on a £20 million Scottish Recovery Fund, to shift the focus from methadone prescriptions to drug rehabilitation programmes.
“SNP Ministers have failed to prevent people from using drugs in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s or to support people off drugs if they have become addicted.”
Police Scotland has charged seven people following the recovery of Class A drugs with a combined street value of £50,000 in Edinburgh.
Officers carried out search warrants at four addresses on Moredunvale Bank on Thursday as part of an intelligence-led operation. Heroin and cocaine were seized from the properties.
Five men, aged 23 to 56, and two women, aged 33 and 37, are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 13 July, in connection with this.
Detective Inspector Bob Campbell, of Gayfield Pro-active CID, said: “This enforcement action was carried out following an intelligence-led operation and tackling serious and organised crime remains a priority to us.
“We will proactively pursue anyone who is exploiting vulnerable people and importing drugs into our communities for their own illicit gain, but we can’t tackle this alone.
“The public continue to play a vital role in assisting investigations into drug crime and I would encourage anyone who believes an individual or property within their community may be being exploited for criminal purposes to contact Police Scotland.
“If you have any concerns about drugs, or have information about those involved in drugs, you can contact police on 101 or make an anonymous report to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
A father and son have been charged as part of a joint National Crime Agency and Police Scotland investigation into the large-scale importation of the new psychoactive substance kratom.
The pair, aged 60 and 38, were arrested as officers from the Organised Crime Partnership executed two warrants in the Bathgate area of West Lothian on Tuesday 12 May.
The arrests followed two seizures of kratom made by Border Force, one of 52 kilos at Edinburgh Airport on 15 April, and another of 102 kilos at East Midlands Airport on 6 May.
Kratom is a controlled substance under the New Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, traditionally grown in south-east Asia and used as a stimulant with opioid-like properties.
The two men were charged with importation, possession with intent to supply and offering for supply the drug, and have both been released pending a summons to appear before court on a future date.
Investigations are continuing.
NCA Scotland operations manager John McGowan said: “We estimate these seizures would have had a combined value of around £60,000 once sold on the black market.
“Kratom is a dangerous drug, and working with partners like Police Scotland and Border Force we are determined to do all we can to prevent such substances making it on to our streets and damaging the communities of Scotland.”
Deputy Director Murdo MacMillan, head of Border Force Scotland, said: “These seizures have taken a large amount of dangerous psychoactive substances out of the hands of organised criminals and off our streets.
“Border Force will continue to work with the NCA and Police Scotland to bring those involved in smuggling to justice.”
Extra support for people affected by alcohol and drug use during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been announced by the Minister for Public Health Joe FitzPatrick.
Funding of £166,000 from the Scottish Government will support:
• a programme to increase access to naloxone in new settings, including investment in kits to add to the existing outlets for naloxone supply
• increased capacity within the Know the Score helpline and webchat service
• a COVID-19 publicity campaign signposting support for alcohol and drug users during the pandemic
• funding to link people with others in recovery through the Scottish Recovery Consortium
Help will also be available for those affected by another’s alcohol and drug use through the Supporting Families Fund. This includes a discretionary emergency fund for families, online wellbeing activities, family meals, wellbeing packs and counselling support.
Mr FitzPatrick said: “Responding to the coronavirus pandemic is one of the biggest challenges of our lifetime and it will disrupt so many lives like never before. Protecting and supporting everyone during these unprecedented times is our priority.
“We’ve worked closely with organisations on the frontline to create this package of measures to ensure we continue to support those affected by alcohol and drug use.
“By working together and observing the latest guidance, we can all play our part in keeping everyone safe.”
Scottish Conservative Health Spokesperson, Miles Briggs, has raised concerns about waiting times for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) in Lothian, with patients waiting for alcohol and drug treatments having to wait longer than anywhere else in Scotland.Continue reading Concern over alcohol and drug treatment waiting times
North Edinburgh has a new Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) based at Drylaw covering the Forth and Inverleith wards. The CAP was launched at Spartans Community Football Academy yesterday, and over the coming weeks more community groups and youth organisations will have the opportunity to help develop and contribute to a local Action Plan.Continue reading Community Alcohol Partnership launched in North Edinburgh
