Eleven children safeguarded in organised crime gang crackdown
Police Scotland has instigated safeguarding measures for 11 children at risk from a Scottish organised crime gang.The youngsters were passed into the care of family members or referred to social services as part of a two-year police operation to dismantle the Scotland-wide drug dealing gang.Operation Intensity, which began in May 2023, has made about 100 arrests, seized more than 200kg (441lbs) of illegal drugs and taken three firearms off the street.The force said the organised crime gang it targeted was operating across the country, in areas including in Dumfries, Ayrshire and the central belt.
News of the operation comes as Police Scotland deals with an ongoing gangland feud across central Scotland.
'Protecting vulnerable people'
Speaking about Operation Intensity, the force said it found couriers were travelling by car to operate drug dealing lines, who were then resupplied from safe houses.A total of 46 search warrants were executed as part of the two-year operation and they resulted in large quantities of drugs being seized, including cocaine, heroin and ecstasy.More than £600,000 in cash and firearms were also recovered with the near 100 arrests taking place in both rural and urban areas. Det Sup Stevie Elliot said: "This operation is a clear example of how we use our national resources, alongside the knowledge of our local policing teams, to bring down large gangs operating across the country."Our strategy was maximising the safety of the public and protecting vulnerable people, particularly children and young people who are all too often coerced and groomed by county lines drug dealers."Organised criminal gangs show no shame or remorse for their actions and all their activities are focused on profiting from exploitation."He added: "These arrests and seizures highlight our dedication to tackling organised networks in Scotland. Illegal substances cause real harm and misery to individuals, families and communities."
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Daily Mail
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Female cocaine dealer who enjoyed drugs-funded luxury life of Louis Vuitton handbags and holidays must pay back £100,000 she made from crime
A woman who ran a cannabis and cocaine dealing operation to fund her lavish has been ordered to pay back £100,000. Danielle Stafford, 31, from Hallgate, Cottingham, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years in April 2023 after pleading guilty to three offences. Before Hull Crown Court, she admitted to being concerned in supplying heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis, and another of possessing cash as criminal property on dates spanning October 2017 and May 2020. The former University of Hull graduate made so much money from selling drugs that she splashed out on nine luxury watches, three Louis Vuitton handbags and even a second house. The case resurfaced this week as the court determined how much money Stafford made from criminal activities - and how much she would be ordered to pay back. With Stafford attending the hearing via a video link from prison, prosecutor Nadim Bashir confirmed a criminal benefit figure had been agreed at £96,263. She has been ordered to pay this amount within three months or face another year of prison time, to be served consecutively. During the original trial, it was revealed that Stafford was caught by pure chance when she was stopped for speeding and officers could smell cannabis coming from her silver Audi on May 12, 2020. When questioned about the stench, Stafford 'immediately lied', telling police: 'I'll be honest, I've got this' and handed over a small silver wrap containing two buds of cannabis skunk. Police went onto find more drugs on her including two food bags containing cannabis skunk. On the way to the police station, Stafford was seen 'fidgeting' with her jogging bottoms and she was asked if she had any more drugs hidden. She said: 'Yes, but it's not mine and I don't know what it is. I shoved it down my joggers when you pulled me.' Stafford pulled out a bag containing cocaine. There were 56 wraps of crack cocaine, valued at £2,800. An iPhone was also found with drug messages on it. 'From the moment of seizure of the drugs to the arrival in the police station custody suite, the mobile iPhone was constantly ringing and receiving messages from different people,' said Mr Bashir. 'Some 30 phone calls were received and 10 to 20 text messages.' After forcing entry, officers found £26,917 cash stashed around her three-bedroom home in Cottingham and drugs with a street value of £33,600. She also had luxury goods including nine watches and three expensive Louis Vuitton handbags, Hull Crown Court heard. A glass jar with plastic drugs bags inside it was found hidden behind a bag of coal bricks in the rear garden. There, officers found 270 wraps of crack cocaine, valued at £13,500, and 205 wraps of heroin, valued at £4,100, in the jar. Stafford denied knowledge of them. In the living room, herbal cannabis, valued at £2,500, was found in an open, empty banana box on a table. She denied that it belonged to her. Two glass jars were found to contain cannabis valued at £370. Police also found weighing scales, a large amount of cash and more food bags. She admitted that this belonged to her. In Stafford's bedroom, herbal cannabis and Ecstasy tablets were discovered alongside wads of cash Wads of cash. More cash, totalling £7,580, was found in a safe but she denied that it was hers. Three Louis Vuitton handbags and nine watches were uncovered. She admitted that these were hers but pretended the designer items were fake or had merely been given to her by family members from their holidays to places like Turkey and Spain. In an upstairs box room, cash bundles of £9,100, £1,668, £550, £700, £1,110, £165, £190 and £91 were found. Examination of Stafford's bank accounts revealed a string of luxury holidays had been taken. Mr Bashir said this was 'evidence of an additional stream of cash income' apart from her monthly wages from working for Swift Group. Stafford had bought her Cottingham home in March 2016 for £124,999 with a mortgage and a property in Hotham Road South in July 2018 without a mortgage for £68,500 in equal shares with her aunt. Stafford paid the 'lion's share' of £64,927 from cashing in premium bonds and she told police that she bought it to rent out. 'Even with rental or lodgings allowances, neither property was able to provide any significant source of income to justify the cash found in the house,' said Mr Bashir. During police interview, Stafford claimed that a Liverpudlian man had been staying with her on and off and that he had phoned her to say that he had left something at her address. When she got home, there was a large amount of cannabis and, when he asked her to take it to him, she said that she did not feel comfortable doing so. She claimed that he asked her to bring a bag of drugs and, in a panic, she grabbed it and was driving to meet him when she was stopped by police. Stafford denied that she or the lad were dealing drugs but later admitted that she would drive to Liverpool and bring him back to Hull. She denied knowledge of any of the large amounts of cash found around her home, claiming that she looked after it for the man, including keeping it for him in her own bedroom - apart from £2,350 which belonged to her. 'She said that the money in the safe had nothing to do with her and all the other cash belonged to the lad,' said Mr Bashir. The prosecutor told the court that Stafford was an 'enthusiastic' cannabis dealer and progressed to becoming a Class A cocaine dealer. 'She had somehow managed to avoid her drug dealing activities coming to the attention of the police for a substantial period of time,' said Mr Bashir. 'The natural result of this was that she was able to accumulate a substantial amount of wealth, including purchasing an investment property, a house to rent. Cash found in her home address amounted to £26,917. 'The contents of her home address in Hallgate, Cottingham, is strong evidence of the nature of her drugs business. The amount, type and value of drugs found at her home were substantial. The drugs alone were street valued at £33,600. This is sustained drug dealing.' During the 2023 hearing, Saleema Mahmood, mitigating, said that Stafford was dealing cannabis but claimed that her involvement in Class A dealing came about due to her association with a person from Liverpool. She argued that evidence of any Class A dealing was extremely limited and came from two sets of messages. The lawyer claimed there was an element of naivety and exploitation in Stafford's involvement and she had little influence on those above her in the chain. Stafford also said that her family was in the habit of keeping large amounts of cash at home, rather than in a bank, and that she was entrusted to look after it for others as she was seen as being a 'responsible' person who could be 'trusted' with money. The court were shown references from previous employers and told that Stafford had tried to get work and had volunteered.
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Body found in search for missing hiker on Isle of Skye
A formal identification has not been made Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A body has been found in the search for a missing walker who vanished on the Isle of Skye. Roddy MacPherson, 67, was reported missing on Wednesday and his family have been informed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He was last seen on Monday outside Sligachan Hotel, walking in the direction of the Sligachan Bridge, and has not been heard from since. Mr MacPherson was described as an 'experienced walker' in an appeal by Police Scotland. On Friday afternoon, the body of a man was traced by police and local mountain rescue teams on Cuillins. There would appear to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal. Formal identification has yet to be made. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr MacPherson was seen walking in the direction of the Sligachan Bridge on Monday. A spokesperson for Skye mountain rescue team (MRT) said: 'Extensive searches were carried out, mainly focusing on the Red Hills and parts of the Northern Cuillin. On Thursday, thanks to helpful information from a local guide, efforts shifted to the area around Bruach na Frithe. 'Around midday on Friday, with improved weather and cloudless tops, a body was sighted on a grassy ledge high on the cliffs between Harta and Lota Corries. It was immediately clear that lowering the casualty to safety would be long and technically demanding. 'A team member was lowered to a position above and confirmed there were no signs of life, and that significantly more equipment would be needed. Fortunately, Stornoway Coastguard helicopter R948 was able to return and carry out a direct lift from the ledge — an incredible effort and a huge relief. 'The helicopter later returned multiple times to help extract the teams and equipment back to Sligachan. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Skye MRT contributed over 350 hours to this search — not including the time and effort given by Police Scotland (N division), Royal Air Force mountain rescue service, Kintail mountain rescue, Glenelg mountain rescue, Search and Rescue Dog Association Scotland, local Coastguard teams including HM Coastguard – Portree, Isle of Skye, and helicopter crews of R948 and R951. 'Our sincere thanks to all involved. Thanks also to the Sligachan Hotel for feeding and supporting us on Wednesday night and Thursday.
Edinburgh Live
2 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Scottish drugs mule flooded market with £7m of heroin in plot involving former cop
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A Scottish drugs mule who flooded the UK with millions of pounds worth of heroin has been ordered to pay back just £42k. Christopher Heaney, from Anstruther in Fife, was jailed for nine years for his involvement in a cross-border heroin conspiracy as he and four others were busted by cops following the arrest of a former police officer in 2022. Ex-cop Steven Creasey was stopped while driving to Fife having already travelled from his home in Cardiff to Liverpool on the same day. A dog then sniffed out a professionally installed hide under the passenger seat, reports WalesOnline. It contained a 5kg stash of heroin and one kilogram of adulterant. A burner phone also found in his possession revealed he had been operating as a professional courier engaged by the heads of a Liverpool-based gang. Fife-based Heaney was involved in the distribution of onward supply across the UK along with three others. Raids were then carried out at homes in Cardiff, Liverpool, Scotland and Northumberland towards the end of 2022. Significant items were found at the addresses, including expensive jewellery, heroin, cocaine, adulterants, opium, cannabis grows, and metal moulds for pressing powder into blocks. All five defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial at Cardiff Crown Court in February last year. The gang members were jailed for a combination of 57 years and 2 months. A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing was held at the same court earlier this week. It heard how despite profiting around £125,000 as part of the operation, Heaney was ordered to pay back a fraction of £42,000. Judge Lucy Crowther ordered him to pay the sum within three months. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. If he fails to do so, he will face an additional 18 months in jail. Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Christopher McGlinchey of Police Scotland said: "This case underlines our collaborative efforts to dismantle organised crime networks that span regions. "The significant amount of drugs trafficked by this group had the potential to inflict serious harm on our communities. "The success of Operation Solon demonstrates strong partnership working between Police Scotland, Tarian ROCU and other partner agencies. It also reinforces our commitment to the UK's Serious and Organised Crime Strategy. "Organised crime has no place in our society and we will continue to work relentlessly to bring those responsible to justice."
