Latest news with #PaulScougall
The National
13-05-2025
- The National
Over £3 million cannabis farm discovered in Scottish town
Officers discovered the cultivation on Thursday morning while carrying out routine inquiries at the premises on the town's Gateside Industrial Estate In all just under 2000 plants were seized. A 70-year-old man has been arrested and released pending further inquiries. READ MORE: Boutique Edinburgh city centre hotel in historic building put up for sale 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.'
The Courier
13-05-2025
- The Courier
£3.2 million Cowdenbeath cannabis farm 'biggest ever found in Fife'
Police believe a £3.2 million cannabis farm in Cowdenbeath may be the biggest ever found in Fife. Nearly 2,000 plants were found inside a disused factory on Gateside Industrial Estate on Thursday. Officers have now revealed the enormous value of the drugs uncovered. The Courier understands detectives believe it is 'almost certainly' their biggest-ever haul in Fife and one of the largest uncovered in the east of Scotland. Officers broke their way into the property on Thursday morning and discovered the cannabis plantation spread over the entire single-storey building. A 24-hour police presence remained at the property for several days as an investigation into the plantation got under way. Police Scotland forensic specialists, brought in from Edinburgh, were also at the scene for several days, analysing the set-up. The last of the plants and equipment was removed on Sunday evening. A 70-year-old man was arrested by police following the raid. He has since been released pending further investigation. 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.'
Scottish Sun
13-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Cops uncover massive £3.2m cannabis farm with 2,000 plants at Scots warehouse as OAP, 70, arrested
WAREHOUSE RAID Cops uncover massive £3.2m cannabis farm with 2,000 plants at Scots warehouse as OAP, 70, arrested A PENSIONER has been arrested after cops seized a massive cannabis haul at a Scots warehouse. Officers raided the property while conducting routine enquiries at the Gateside Industrial Estate in Cowdenbeath at around 10.30 am on Thursday, May 8. Just under 2,000 plants, worth an estimated street value of £3.2 million, were seized. A 70-year-old man has been arrested 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.' Last month, three men were jailed after the largest cannabis farm in Scotland was found. Cops raided a disused retail unit in Greenock in January last year and seized a huge drugs haul worth up to £3.6million. Meanwhile, five others were arrested after cops seized a huge drugs haul with an estimated street value of £1.4million in six locations across Scotland. The properties were in and around Armadale, Bathgate, Edinburgh, Kilmarnock, Livingston and Penicuik. Five men, aged 24, 29, 30, 33 and 32, were arrested in connection with the raids.
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'.
STV News
13-05-2025
- STV News
Man, 70, charged after cannabis worth £3.2m seized from warehouse
A man has been charged after cannabis worth around £3.2m was seized from a warehouse in Fife. Officers made the discovery while carrying out routine enquiries on the Gateside Industrial Estate in Cowdenbeath on May, 8. Police confirmed just under 2,000 plants with an estimated street value of £3.2m were seized. A 70-year-old man has been arrested in connection and released pending further enquiries. Police Scotland is urging anyone with information regarding drugs in their area to come forward. 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.' 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
