Officers conducting enquiries to locate missing woman Khasha Smith began searching in an area off Calder Road in Edinburgh today (Wednesday, 4 September, 2024).
The work includes specialist search trained officers as part of the investigation to locate Khasha who went missing almost a year ago, aged 35.
Extensive enquiries have been carried out but Khasha is still a missing person. We are continuing to support her family throughout this time.
Khasha was last seen to be safe and well on Tuesday, 10 October, 2023. She has never gone missing before.She is around 5ft, of slim build, with blue eyes and long, blonde hair.
She also has tattoos, one which is visible on her right wrist and says ‘Forever’.
Detective Chief Inspector Bob Williamson said: “We continue to follow up several lines of enquiry and are working to find answers for Khasha’s family.
“As with every missing person inquiry, all aspects of Khasha’s life have been, and continue to be, explored. We know she would never miss events such as her daughter’s birthday and Christmas, and we have to consider the possibility that she may have come to harm.
“We are constantly evaluating and exploring all the information we have and remain open minded. We are doing everything we can to find her.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 3915 of 5 January 2024.
A 20-year-old man has been jailed for seven years in connection with a series of serious sexual offences in Edinburgh.
Sam Brown was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday (Monday, 2 September, 2024) for sexual offences, including the rape of four girls between March and December 2022.
He was previously was found guilty of seven charges on Tuesday, 30 July, following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
He was also issued with non-harassment orders against each of his victims indefinitely.
Detective Inspector Keith Taylor said: “Brown will now rightly face the consequences of his deplorable actions.
“I would like to commend the young women for their strength in coming forward during this investigation and helping us build a compelling case against him. I hope this outcome provides them with some sense of closure and allows them to move on from this horrendous ordeal.
“We are committed to creating a society where women and girls live free from violence, abuse, exploitation and harassment.
“If anyone is experiencing or has experienced any type of violence or sexual abuse, you are not alone, and we would encourage you to report it to us.
“You will be listened to and supported throughout the entire process by officers and our partner agencies, and together we will bring the perpetrator to justice.”
A man has been jailed for more than nine years for violent and sexual offences against women in the Edinburgh and Midlothian areas.
Jamie Wilson, 34, was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, 27 June, 2024 of the offences between 2015 and 2022.
He was sentenced on Friday (30 August), at the same court, to nine and a half years in prison and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Detective Inspector Keith Taylor said: “Wilson now faces the consequences of a campaign of violent and sexual attacks on women spanning a significant period of time.
“I commend the strength of the women involved in coming forward to report his offending and throughout the legal proceedings. I hope the conviction and sentencing will bring them justice as they continue to move forward with their lives.
“Anyone who has been a victim of violent or sexual abuse is urged to report it to us, regardless of when it happened. We’re committed to fully investigating all reports and victims are supported throughout by our specially trained officers and partner agencies.”
Six men have admitted conspiring to flood Scotland with around £100 million of cocaine smuggled to the UK from South America.
Today, Thursday, 29 August 2024, James Stevenson, 59 (above), David Bilsland, 68, and Paul Bowes, 53, plead guilty to serious organised crime and drug offences following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Gerard Carbin,45, Ryan McPhee, 34, and Lloyd Cross, 32, had plead guilty earlier in the trial.
In September 2020, around a tonne of cocaine with an estimated value of £100 million was discovered, concealed within a consignment of bananas, during a joint operation by Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency (NCA) at Dover.
The seizure of 119 packages of the Class A drugs, which had arrived into the port on a vessel from Ecuador, was made by Organised Crime Partnership officers, assisted by specialist Border Force search teams.
Searches were subsequently carried out at properties in Scotland and England and the accused were identified.
The investigation was closely linked to Operation Venetic – the most significant operation into serious and organised crime involving Police Scotland, the National Crime Agency and police forces across the UK – which has seen hundreds of arrests following the infiltration of an encrypted communications platform used by criminals.
Stevenson had fled the UK and was arrested in February 2022 in the south of The Netherlands by Police Scotland, NCA and international law enforcement officers.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry, Police Scotland’s Head of Organised Crime said: “The conviction of those men involved in this dangerous organised crime group are testament to the hard work and determination of those who undertook a complex investigation which spanned countries across the world.
“The multi-agency operation, including the National Crime Agency, prevented a massive haul of drugs reaching our communities across Scotland and ruining lives. It also underlines the value of working in partnership with our law enforcement colleagues in this country and abroad.
“Police Scotland officers work tirelessly every day to disrupt the activities of serious organised crime groups who think they are above the law, and in some way untouchable. The guilty pleas tendered today show this not to be the case.”
NCA Regional Head of Investigations Gerry Mclean said: “The drugs trade causes immense damage and devastation, fuelling violence on our streets and the exploitation of young and vulnerable people across the country.
“Following his arrest in 2020, career criminal Stevenson fled the country but continued to direct the importation of cocaine into the UK from abroad, falsely believing he could evade justice.
“His plea today, and the earlier admissions of guilt by five of his co-conspirators, are testament to the dedicated work of NCA officers, our Police Scotland partners and our many law enforcement colleagues right across the globe.
“Together, we are working tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups who supply class A drugs, ensuring that all those involved, wherever they choose to hide, are brought before the courts.”
Another man, Lewis Connor, aged 27 years, was jailed for three years in July this year after the same investigation found encrypted phone messages which proved he had set fire to properties and vehicles across Central Scotland.
The Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) is a joint Police Scotland and NCA team. Police Scotland and the NCA are partners in Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, which oversees the work being carried out to reduce the harm caused by serious organised crime in Scotland by ensuring all partner bodies work together.
A 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a robbery in Edinburgh.The incident happened in the Robert Burns Drive area around 10pm on Tuesday, 27 August.
The man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow – Friday, 30 August.
POLICE are appealing for information following a robbery which occurred in Edinburgh last night (Tuesday, 27 August).
Around 10pm an 88-year-old woman was driving her bronze coloured Honda Jazz with her 93-year-old female friend when they stopped on Robert Burns Drive near to its junction with Mossgiel Walk.
While the car was stopped, three or four males dressed in dark clothing and wearing face coverings approached the vehicle and demanded the women get out.
The suspects entered the car and drove off at speed along Robert Burns Drive.
Police were contacted and the car was later found abandoned in the Harlaw Reservoir car park around 11.10pm.
Detective Sergeant Steven Dick said: “This was an incredibly distressing experience for the two elderly women, who thankfully were not hurt, and extensive enquiries are ongoing to identify the individuals involved.
“It is vital that we speak to any potential witnesses and we would appeal to anyone who was in the area around the time of the robbery who may have noticed men matching the above description, or anything at all suspicious, to get in touch.
“We would also urge anyone with private CCTV or dash-cam footage to please check in case they have captured the stolen vehicle or anything else which could be of significance to our investigation.”
Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 4112 of Tuesday, 27 August, 2024. You can also speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A man has been jailed for eight years for serious sexual offences in Edinburgh.Connor Hagley, 26, pleaded guilty to the abuse, including rape, of a woman between 2019 and 2021 at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday, 22 July, 2024.
He was sentenced at the High Court in Stirling yesterday, Tuesday, 27 August. He has also been placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
Detective Inspector Keith Taylor said: “Hagley is a danger to women and his conviction proves that. He’ll now face the consequences of his despicable actions, which have had a devastating impact on the woman involved.
“I’d like to commend her for her strength throughout the investigation and court proceedings. I hope this sentencing will bring some form of justice as she continues to move forward with her life.
“Anyone who has been a victim of such crimes is urged to come forward and report it to us. We’re committed to fully investigating, regardless of when it happened, and bringing those responsible in front of the courts.
“I want to reassure you, we have specially trained officers and partner agencies who will support you throughout.”
A woman and man have been convicted of human trafficking offences in Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh.
Mananchaya Wanitthanawet, 40 and Cameron Wilson, 30, were convicted at the High Court in Dundee on Thursday, 22 August, 2024.
They are due to be sentenced at a later date.
The offences took place between November, 2019 and December, 2020.
Detective Inspector Simon Murray said: “Human trafficking has no place in Scotland.
“We will continue target criminals who abuse, control and exploit people, working with partners nationally and internationally to bring offenders to justice, and to raise public awareness to help identify victims and ensure they get the support they need.
“People within local communities are often the first to spot when someone may be trafficked or is being exploited.
“If you have concerns, or information, please report this to us on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 so we can investigate and take action.”
Police are appealing to the public to help identify a man whose body was discovered in the River Tay at Aberfeldy last Saturday, 17 August, 2024.
The man’s body was discovered by a member of the public near to Wades Bridge around 9.40am. He is described as white and likely in his late 50’s or older, around 6ft 4ins in height and of medium build with sandy blonde and grey wavy hair. When he was found he was wearing black underwear.
His death is not believed to be suspicious.
Detective Inspector Simon Murray said: “Unfortunately, despite significant enquiries, we have not yet been able to establish who the man is. We want to establish his identity as soon as possible to inform his family of his death.
“There were no personal belongings near to where he was found, and no-one has reported anyone matching his description missing to police.
“We are continuing to carry out enquiries to help us identify where he may have entered the water. We would ask any local residents if this description resembles anyone they know lives locally? For any wider public who have been in the Aberfeldy area over the past couple of weeks, does this resemble anyone they may have seen in the area?
“Has anyone seen personal items either washed up on the shore or discarded near the water? Have you have seen a car parked in either a car park or a layby in the area that has been there for a few days? Abandoned tents or anything out else of the ordinary?
“He may have been on holiday or visiting the Aberfeldy area, so if you have any information or if you have not heard from a friend or family member and this is unusual, please contact us. Anyone with any information that may be relevant is urged to contact 101 quoting incident number 1094 of 17 August.”
New Drop-in Alert
When: 26th of August
Where: Pilton Community Health Project, 73 Boswall Parkway, EH5 2PW
What Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM