Police arrest 11 people after drugs worth £670k seized in Scottish Borders

A total of 11 people have been arrested after drugs worth £670,000 were seized in the Scottish Borders.

Police have arrested eight men and three women as a result of the large scale investigations between April 5 and April 20 this year.

Organised Crime units along with Counter Terrorism teams and officers from Police Scotland’s Operation Jabiru recovered the drugs, which have the estimated street value of £670,000.

Officers seized 4.5kg of cocaine and 5.5kg of heroin as well as quantities of money in the operation.

Ten people arrested have been charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal for offences related to supply of drugs.

On April 20, a 35-year-old man became the eleventh person to be arrested and charged in connection to the operation.

He has been charged for offences including the supply of controlled drugs, directing serious organised crime and money laundering offences.

He was held in custody to appear at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Friday.

Detective chief superintendent Stuart Houston, head of the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, said: “This has been a significant operation, aimed at disrupting the illegal supply of drugs in the Scottish Borders and associated organised crime.

“We will continue to investigate those who profit from, and care nothing for, the misery that drugs bring to individuals, their families and communities.

“Activity such as this is a good example of how specialist national units work closely with local policing colleagues to ensure action is taken to address criminal activity and support our local communities.”

Chief superintendent Catriona Paton, divisional commander for The Lothians and Scottish Borders, said: “This targeted operation demonstrates our commitment to ridding our streets of drugs. This is built on effective intelligence gathering and the help and support of the local community, who rightly do not tolerate the supply of drugs in their neighbourhoods.

“I am grateful for the ongoing support policing has from our communities in the Borders and for the sustained support we have from our national colleagues, enabling the positive outcome we have seen in this case.

“I would continue to appeal to anyone with information or concerns about the supply of illegal drugs to contact police immediately on the non-emergency number 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”