Latest news with #OperationIntensity
Edinburgh Reporter
22-05-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
Chief constable condemns actions of those involved in gang wars
Speaking at a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority Board in Glasgow today, Thursday, 22 May 2025, she highlighted the 37 arrests following targeted attacks in the East and West of Scotland, under Operation Portaledge. She said: 'I utterly condemn the actions of those involved and thank our communities for their support and assistance in making Scotland a hostile environment for those involved in organised crime. 'A team of detectives is working closely with local policing officers and operational support colleagues. I also want to recognise and thank Scottish Police Authority Forensics for their contribution to what is one of our largest ongoing investigations. 'Our commitment to tackling organised crime is also underlined by Operation Intensity, which has resulted in 100 arrests as well as the seizure of illegal drugs and firearms. 'We'll continue to work with partners at international, national, regional and local levels to clear organised crime and build resilience in communities and I want to thank colleagues in local authorities and the Scottish Fire and Rescue and the National Crime Agency for their support. 'Of course, we work very closely with the partners, as underlined by their input today and I welcome Graeme from the NCA here today and place on record my thanks for their support and collaboration.' Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Daily Record
Pensioner arrested after cops seize £3.2m worth of drugs from industrial estate
A 70-year-old man was arrested after police seized drugs with an estimated street value of £3.2 million. Cannabis plants with an estimated street value of £3.2 million have been seized by police from a Cowdenbeath industrial estate, as a pensioner is arrested. On Thursday, May 8 at around 10.30am, officers carrying out routine enquiries attended a warehouse on the Gateside Industrial Estate in the town. There they found a cannabis cultivation and just under 2,000 plants, with an estimated street value of £3.2 million, were seized. A 70-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and released pending further enquiries. Detective Constable Paul Scougall said: ' Drugs cause misery in our communities and Police Scotland is determined to disrupt the supply of illegal substances and trace those involved. 'This significant recovery underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country's Serious Organised Crime Strategy. 'Information from the public is absolutely crucial to our work and we urge anyone with knowledge or concerns about drugs activity in their area to contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.' On Thursday, in a separate incident, we reported that a major police crackdown has dismantled a Scots organised crime gang, with around 100 arrests and more than 200kg worth of drugs seized. As well as the huge drug haul — which included cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, pills and herbal cannabis — police recovered more than £600,000 in cash, ammunition, and three firearms, including a handgun, air weapon and a BB gun. Detectives also rescued 11 children who were at risk of being groomed for so-called county-line activities. The vulnerable youngsters were either referred to partner agencies or placed with family members. Operation Intensity, launched in May 2023, targeted a organised criminal network operating in Dumfries, Ayrshire, and Central Scotland — with links spanning as far as Argyll to Tayside. Officers from the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit led the investigation. Police Scotland say the gang ran a sophisticated County Lines-style operation, with couriers travelling by car to supply drugs using so-called 'dealing lines', which were regularly resupplied from safe houses. A total of 46 search warrants were executed across both rural and urban areas, resulting in arrests and seizures. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Edinburgh Reporter
08-05-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
Police make multiple arrests as part investigation to dismantle organised crime gang
Police Scotland has made around 100 arrests, seized more than 200 kilograms of illegal drugs, taken three firearms off the street and safeguarded 11 children as part of a significant investigation to dismantle a Scottish organised crime gang. Operation Intensity, which began in May 2023, involved officers from the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit and targeted a criminal network operating across the country. Intelligence indicated the group was well resourced and was exploiting vulnerable people in some of our most deprived communities to fund their crimes. Couriers travelling by car were used to operate dealing lines, who were then resupplied from safe houses. The arrests, in both rural and urban areas, took place within a number of local divisions, spanning from Argyll to Tayside. Forty-six search warrants were executed as part of action to disrupt the gang, which resulted in large quantities of drugs, including cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, pills and herbal cannabis being seized. More than £600,000 in cash and firearms, including a handgun, air weapon and a BB gun, were also recovered with ammunition from the addresses. Alongside this enforcement activity, 11 children were safeguarded after officers identified they were at risk from the gang as part of their criminal activities. They were referred to partner agencies or passed into the care of family members. Detective Superintendent 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. '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. 'This shows our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce where we work with partners on a multi-agency approach to tackling the threat of OCGs. 'We cannot do this alone and we need the public's help to rid these gangs from their communities. I would urge anyone with information or concerns about drugs or organised activities should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.' Like this: Like Related
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
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. 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."
STV News
08-05-2025
- STV News
Around 100 arrested and 11 children rescued in gangbusting probe
Around 100 people have been arrested and 11 children rescued in a major police operation against a rising Scottish drug gang. Officers seized more than 200kg of illegal drugs and three guns while targeting a criminal network operating across the country, including in Dumfries, Ayrshire, and central Scotland. The Operation Intensity investigation, which began in May 2023, indicated that the gang exploited vulnerable people in deprived communities to fund their illicit activity. Officers also identified 11 children who were 'groomed' by the county lines dealers as part of the illegal activity. The at-risk children were safeguarded by law enforcement. Police carried out 46 raids during Operation Intensity, resulting in large quantities of drugs, including more than 45kg of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin, 5,000 ecstasy pills and 111kg herbal cannabis being seized. Detectives also recovered more than £600,000 in cash and firearms, including a handgun, air weapon and a BB gun from addresses targeted with raids Detective superintendent 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. '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. 'This shows our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce where we work with partners on a multi-agency approach to tackling the threat of OCGs. 'We cannot do this alone and we need the public's help to rid these gangs from their communities. I would urge anyone with information or concerns about drugs or organised activities should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
