Four men have been jailed for a total of over 18 years after pleading guilty to being involved in serious organised crime in Edinburgh.
Dale Cleeton, 31, was jailed for seven years, Calvin Begbie, 30, for six years, Fraser Boyd, 51, for three years and Mitchell Whyte, 24, for 32 months.
Cleeton and Begbie were also given Serious Crime Prevention Orders for three years.
They were convicted on Friday, 3 May, 2024 at the High Court in Glasgow and were sentenced there this morning, Friday, 7 June.
Detective Inspector Mark McCullagh, senior investigating officer for the case, said: “These men and their organised crime group were a significant factor in the trade of illegal drugs in Edinburgh and The Lothians.
“They caused nothing but harm in pursuit of their own gain.
“Their activities were uncovered by an intelligence-led operation by specialist officers working in Edinburgh. Disrupting the activities of organised crime groups and making the country an extremely hostile environment for them to operate is one of Police Scotland’s top priorities.
“There is no place for serious organised criminality in our society and, working in partnership with the local communities we serve, law enforcement agencies and the members of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, we will continue our fight against those involved in serious and organised crime to keep our communities safe.”
Three men have been sent to prison for serious and organised crime offences involving the large-scale supply of class A drugs based in Glasgow and stretching across the central belt of Scotland.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, yesterday (Friday, 10 May), Paul Martin, Peter Dickson and Grant Japp, were sentenced to five years and eight months, four years and three months, and three years and four months respectively.
Martin aged 43, Dickson aged 34, and Japp aged 30, had previously pled guilty at the High Court in Glasgow.
Acting on intelligence officers, executed a number of warrants in Glasgow which led to the arrest of Jaap in May 2021. Further enquiries resulted in Dickson also being apprehended.
A complex investigation enabled officers to identify Martin as the ring-leader. This included infiltration of the encrypted messaging service Encrochat via Operation Venetic – regarded as the most significant UK operation into serious and organised crime involving Police Scotland, the National Crime Agency and police forces across the UK.
Martin had fled to Spain before he could be arrested but was traced to Tenerife and extradited to Scotland in August 2022.
Detective Inspector Phillip Kennedy said: “These men made a substantial amount of money from a drugs operation importing and selling Class A drugs in the central belt of Scotland.
“Martin, in particular, lived a lavish lifestyle with properties in Scotland and Spain.
“The three men blighted our communities with drugs and their sentencing comes after a complex investigation.
“Disrupting the activities of organised crime groups and making the country an extremely hostile environment for them to operate is one of Police Scotland’s top priorities.
“There is no place for serious organised criminality in our society and, working in partnership with law enforcement agencies and the members of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, we will continue our fight against those involved in serious and organised crime to keep our communities safe.”
Anyone who has information or concerns about the sale and supply of drugs in their community is urged to contact Police Scotland via 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
British Veterinary Association and British Small Animal Veterinary Association urge crackdown on services linked to organised crime and unethical breeding of fashionable dog breeds
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) are calling on Government to license premises offering unregulated fertility treatments for dogs, such as ‘canine fertility clinics’, many of which are undertaking medical procedures on animals without any veterinary involvement, putting the health and wellbeing of dogs and their litters at risk.
Regulation would also help to close the legal loopholes that are enabling unethical and irresponsible breeding. Some of these services have been linked to organised crime and potentially dangerous breeding practices, as reported by BBC One’s Panorama in January 2022 and BBC Three’s ‘Britain’s Puppy Boom’ exposé in July 2021.
Undercover footage showed people with no veterinary qualifications or regulation illegally taking blood from animals, advocating the unlicensed use of medicines, demonstrating poor animal handling and hygiene, as well as potentially illegal acts such as entering a body cavity during artificial insemination.
The call comes as BVA’s latest Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey shows that irresponsible breeding or sourcing of animals is the top animal health and welfare concern for vets in the UK, with over half (55%) vets in clinical practice citing it as the most pressing issue.
More than 9 in 10 (93%) vets are concerned about the boom in unregulated breeding services, such as canine fertility clinics, which offer procedures like semen collection and analysis, progesterone testing, ultrasound scanning, and trans-cervical or intra-vaginal artificial insemination without any veterinary involvement. Worryingly, among vets who work in companion animal practice, 30% said they were aware of such establishments operating in their local area last year.
BVA has now launched its new joint policy position on canine breeding services with the BSAVA. Key recommendations for government include:
Amend current animal welfare licensing legislations across the UK [Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and equivalent devolved regulations] so all operators of establishments operating without direct involvement of an RCVS-registered veterinary surgeon requirea licence, with mandatory inspections by trained Local Authority personnel.
Increase the penalties for those in breach of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, including non-veterinarians and non-veterinary nurses or non-RCVS-registered vets carrying out acts of veterinary surgery.
Strengthen Local Authorities’ (and other relevant devolved bodies’) enforcement capacity.
Improve data sharing between Local Authorities and establish a framework so that there is a consistent application of existing regulations.
Strengthen the legislation regarding the use of stud dogs under the dog breeding licensing regime and address the current legislative loopholes around the ownership of breeding bitches. It is currently possible for breeders breeding three or more litters in a year to circumvent licensing requirements by making use of a co-owning agreement with another person, who will take ownership of the dog while it is pregnant.
British Veterinary Association Junior Vice President Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux said:“Vets across the UK are extremely concerned about unscrupulous individuals cashing in on the huge demand for certain fashionable puppy breeds by offering dog breeding services like artificial insemination and blood sampling without any qualifications or veterinary oversight, fuelling a potential animal welfare disaster.
“The British Veterinary Association would like to see the Government act swiftly to clamp down on these unregulated and dangerous practices, including bringing in licensing, mandatory inspections, and tough penalties if they are found to be operating outside the law.
“Our advice to anyone looking to get a puppy or to breed their dog is to always speak to their vet first. Ask any dog breeding premises the right questions before using their services to avoid getting duped. This includes questions around the staff’s qualifications and training, how they are regulated, and about relevant health tests to make sure the dog is fit to breed in the first place.”
British Small Animal Veterinary Association President Carl Gorman said: “The surge in the number of commercial businesses offering canine breeding services in the UK, driven by an increased demand for puppies, is a real cause for concern among vets in small animal practice.
“The procedures advertised by some such businesses, if carried out by unqualified laypersons, pose potential risks to the health and behaviour of the dogs involved and also their puppies.
“BSAVA would encourage breeders and prospective owners of puppies to do their homework when engaging the services of a breeding clinic or when getting a new puppy. For clinics, always ask who the veterinary qualified professionals are for the premises and also if the business provides an out-of-hours service.
“For prospective puppy buyers, the new addition to the family is a long-term commitment and brings with it responsibility, so it’s important to find out about the breed of your new puppy and ask to see its parents, especially the mother.
“BSAVA would like to see canine breeding services better regulated and unscrupulous breeding practices robustly tackled to protect animal health and welfare.”
Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a 38-year-old man in West Granton.A 32-year-old man and 25-year-old woman have been arrested in connection with the shooting.
Emergency services were called around 11.50pm on Sunday, 31 December, 2023, after a firearm was discharged in West Granton Road, seriously injuring two men.
Both men, aged 38 and 39, were taken to hospital, where the 38-year-old man was pronounced dead a short time later. The dead man has been named locally as Marc Webley.
Enquiries are ongoing and police continue to appeal for information.
Detective Superintendent Graham Grant, Major Investigation Team, said: “We’d like to thank the local community for their support and patience while enquiries are ongoing.
“There will continue to be an increased police presence in the area and anyone with further concerns should speak to officers, call 101, or in the case of an emergency, 999.”
Police Scotland’s commitment to disrupting the activities of organised crime groups is unwavering, as latest figures show that millions of pounds worth of illegal drugs were seized between July and September 2023.
The Quarter 2 2023-24 Performance Report details activity by officers across the country, which saw cocaine, heroin and cannabis as well as quantities of cash being recovered. A number of arrests were also made.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “Police Scotland is committed to disrupting the activities of organised criminals, who trade in misery by selling and supplying illegal drugs, and making Scotland a hostile environment for them to operate.
“Our role, working in partnership with other others including the members of the country’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, is vital in preventing these drugs reaching our streets and adding to the terrible toll of drugs deaths.
“Activity detailed in the latest Performance Report underlines our commitment to reducing the harm caused to individuals, families and communities.
“The seizures will impact the activities of those involved and help keep our communities safe.”
“Our message is clear: this is simply not welcome or tolerated in Scotland.”
Police Scotland targeted drugs dealers who exploit vulnerable young people during a national County Lines Intensification Week of activity – between Monday, 9 October and Friday, 15 October 2023.
Proactive action by officers across the country saw a number of vulnerable people being identified and safeguarded and addresses used for cuckooing being visited.
Illegal drugs and offensive weapons, including a firearm, were also recovered.
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn said: “The harm caused by illegal drugs across Scotland is well-documented and County Lines drug dealers bring nothing but misery to our communities. They exploit vulnerable people and groom and threaten young people to become involved in their nefarious activities.
“Over the week we have worked in partnership with a wide range of national organisations, including the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, to crack down on those involved in County Lines activity.
“Our message is clear: this is simply not welcome or tolerated in Scotland.”
During the UK-wide initiative – co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) – officers in Scotland safeguarded 17 vulnerable people and engaged with another 650.
373 addresses believed to be used for the purposes of cuckooing were also visited
25 people were arrested for a variety of offences including; being in possession of a firearm and ammunition, attempted murder and the supply of illegal drugs. In addition 18 warrants were executed.
Cocaine with a street value of over £250,000, heroin with a street value of £33,000 and crack cocaine with a street value of almost £30,000, was seized. Cannabis, a quantity of tablets and over £220,000 in cash were also recovered.
A number offensive weapons such as machetes, a meat cleaver, a knife and a baseball bat were recovered. An electric bike, two Audi cars and several mobiles phones were seized.
County Lines is a terms used to describe activity by criminals from larger cities who expand their operations into smaller towns. They exploit young and vulnerable people to sell drugs, carry cash and weapons – bringing violence, coercion and abuse. They may also take over a vulnerable person’s house, known as cuckooing.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “I welcome the County Lines intensification activity by Police Scotland, which has helped to safeguard a number of individuals. It is essential that we protect our most vulnerable citizens from being exploited by ruthless criminals whose only focus is on increasing their wealth.
“This year, Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce published practitioner guidance on the criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults. The guidance aims to help those who come into contact with children and vulnerable adults on a regular basis to identify the signs of possible exploitation and what measures should be put in place to protect them.”
Assistant Chief Constable Freeburn added: “These hugely positive results during the intensification week are an example of our continuing work in support of Scotland’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy.
“I would urge anyone who has concerns about County Lines activity or knowledge of who may be involved to contact Police Scotland or alternatively to Crimestoppers anonymously.”
Notable activity in Scotland included:
An investigation is ongoing after a vehicle was stopped as it travelled between England and Scotland and £200,000 in Scottish notes was recovered.
Officers in Inverness safely traced a 17-year-old male youth, who is believed to be involved in County Lines activity and had been reported missing from Birmingham,
West Midlands Police arrested a man wanted in Aberdeen on behalf of Police Scotland.
POLICE in Midlothian have charged two men and seized a significant quantity of controlled drugs following an intelligence-led operation.
On Tuesday, 12 September, 2023, officers attended a property in the Danderhall area suspected of being involved in the production and supply of illegal drugs.
Seized from within the address were items believed to be involved in the production of diazepam, including a pill press, along with approximately 900,000 tablets.
A range of other substances, including powders currently undergoing further forensic testing, were also recovered.
It is anticipated that the items recovered had an estimated street value of over £1 million.
Two men, aged 42 and 60, were arrested at the scene and have since been charged. Both are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Thursday, 14 September, 2023.)
Detective Chief Inspector Bryan Burns said: “Officers discovered a sophisticated criminal enterprise believed to have been producing vast amounts of illegal drugs with a significant quantity, and mechanisms to produce more, successfully seized.
“Our officers are removing drugs from communities right across Scotland day in, day out. In addition we will continue to do everything in our powers to strip those responsible of their criminal assets using the Proceeds of Crime Act, so they do not benefit from criminal activity.
“This operation underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.”
Pro-active action by police officers saw millions of pounds worth of illegal drugs recovered, between April and June 2023 as Police Scotland’s efforts to disrupt serious organised crime continues.
The Quarter 1 2023-24 Performance Report, presented to the Scottish Police Authority on Tuesday, 12 September 2023, details seizures of cannabis, cocaine, heroin and street Valium tablets as well as a number of arrests being made.
Detective Chief Superintendent Vicky Watson said: “Police Scotland has a vital role in preventing illicit drugs reaching our streets and disrupting the nefarious activities of those engaged in serious organised criminality.
“We are all too aware of the terrible toll of drugs deaths in Scotland. The ongoing activity described in the performance report underlines our commitment to reducing the harm caused to individuals, families and communities.
“The encouraging figures underline that those working in partnership to deliver the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy continue to have a considerable impact on these illegal activities and are contributing to helping to keep our communities safe.
“These seizures will undoubtedly have a massive negative effect on the activities of those involved.”
Activity between April and June 2023 includes:
• Activity by Organised Crime and local officers, saw seven men and three woman arrested during an operation targeting the supply of drugs in the Scottish Borders which resulted in £670,000 worth of substances being recovered
• Officers in Ayrshire recovered a cannabis cultivation with an estimated street value of £2,000,000
• Officers executed a warrant at a property in High Street, Dumfries and recovered cannabis plants with an estimated street value of £261,000
• Cannabis plants worth £740,000 were seized following an operation in Kirkcaldy
• Officers executed warrants at a number of addresses in Aberdeen and Liverpool as part of a County Lines investigation and recovered heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine with an estimated street value in excess of £115,000
• In Glenrothes, a 21-year-old man was arrested and charged after Class A drugs, with an estimated street value of £400,000 were recovered.
In the reporting period hundreds of thousands of street Valium tablets, including Etizolam and Bromazolam were seized. At least 200,000 were recovered during operations in the Glasgow area, 160,000 in Lanarkshire, more than 30,000 in the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde area and almost 50,000 in the Lothians and Scottish Borders.
Eight men have been arrested and cocaine worth up to £225,000 was seized in a day of action targeting county lines drug activity in Edinburgh.
The action was taken yesterday (Tuesday, 5 September) and focused on eight addresses in Edinburgh and two in London, with support from the Metropolitan Police.
Officers from Edinburgh also worked with colleagues in Highland & Islands Division as part of the investigation, looking into wider links in the Inverness area.
Cocaine worth up to £225,000 was seized over the course of the day along with up to £30,000 in cash.
The eight men, aged between 41 and 21, were arrested and charged in connection with various drug and immigration offences. They are all due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Wednesday, 6 September).
Detective Superintendent Iain Ramsay said: “We are committed to identifying the supply chain which brings drugs into Edinburgh and disrupting the activity of people intent on bringing harm to our communities.
“The county lines model shows crime does not respect borders.
“Activity such as this cross-border operation shows the benefit of working closely with partner agencies in response to concerns raised by local communities, as well working with colleagues across Police Scotland.
“Intelligence is the lifeblood of investigations such as this. Communities should not have to tolerate the damage caused by drugs and I would urge anyone with information which can help us deal with those responsible to pass this on.”
“If anyone has any concerns regarding the abuse of controlled drugs, or anyone who may be involved in the supply of controlled drugs, they are urged to contact Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Frontline workers, including in schools and the NHS, are being given new guidance to help prevent children and vulnerable adults from being drawn into organised crime.
The first document of its kind in Scotland, the ‘Practitioner Guidance on Criminal Exploitation’ stems from work commissioned last year by the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce.
It aims to support a shared understanding of criminal exploitation and to help professionals identify those at risk from serious organised crime.
This includes watching out for signs such as: individuals travelling to different areas or locations they would not usually visit; changes in peer groups; and individuals who may have been groomed by crime gangs appearing agitated and nervous about answering calls, or texts and going out.
The guidance will be made available to all front-line workers – including in social work, policing, the NHS, education settings and the third-sector – who come into regular contact with children and vulnerable adults.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “Criminal exploitation of anyone, and particularly the vulnerable is truly abhorrent and can leave victims feeling trapped with nowhere to turn while experiencing violence, intimidation, and threats.
“This new guidance seeks to help end that cycle, giving people who work with children and vulnerable adults the confidence to act, enabling help to be more quickly delivered to those that need it.
“Scotland’s organised crime gangs are not confined to the big cities, and they seek to exploit people across the country, impacting everyone. Understanding this and how this despicable practice can finally be ended is crucial in supporting the strong partnerships we have created to tackle these illegal groups.
“We all pay the price for their callous disregard for the law. This guidance is an important step towards better helping victims of exploitation and stifling the organised criminals of the lifeblood they need to keep operating.”
Paul Carberry, Chair of Serious Organised Crime Taskforce Divert strand, said: “This guidance will give professionals from across multiple agencies more comprehensive knowledge, understanding and develop a wider perspective about criminal exploitation.
“It is essential frontline public professionals, such as NHS, Social Work, and school staff, as well as Police Scotland, recognise the signs and have a shared knowledge of criminal exploitation.
“The work of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce will help Scotland realise a vision where all individuals are free from criminal exploitation. This guidance will take us one step further in that aim.”
