Pubdate: Sat, 14 Mar 2009
Source: Scotsman (UK)
Copyright: 2009 The Scotsman Publications Ltd
Contact: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/contactus.aspx
Website: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/406
Author: Frank Urquhart

DRUGS CRACKDOWN NETS 98 SUSPECTS

Almost 100 suspected drug dealers have been arrested in a two-week
crackdown on street-level heroin and crack cocaine dealers. Police
yesterday revealed that 98 men and women had been taken into custody
and drugs worth ?77,000 seized in a series of raids by dedicated
strike teams during Operation Lochnagar by Grampian Police.

The drive was the force's biggest ever against drugs in the north-east
of Scotland.

In one raid alone, class A drugs with a street value of ?64,000 were
seized during an operation in Aberdeen city centre and two local men
and a man from Liverpool were arrested.

Senior officers in the force hailed the operation as an unqualified
success and warned there would be no let up in the force's concerted
campaign to combat the trade.

Detective Superintendent Campbell Thomson, who led the crackdown,
said: "Although success in the short term may be measured by the very
positive results, anyone who believes Grampian Police will no longer
continue to target drug dealers is very much mistaken.

"Operation Lochnagar was just the start or our enforcement activity.
Tackling drug dealing, antisocial behaviour and related criminality
remains a priority for Grampian Police.

"We have had a tremendous response from the public and we would
encourage them to continue to bring information which would lead us to
target drug dealers."

He added: "Our message remains clear - Grampian Police will not
tolerate drug dealers nor the fear, intimidation and antisocial
behaviour they bring to our communities."

Det Supt Thomson revealed that the two-week operation had resulted in
a total of 151 people being taken into custody - 98 on suspicion of
dealing in drugs and 53 on warrant.

The drugs seized included heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, amphetamine,
Ecstasy, cannabis resin and diazepam. A significant quantity of cash
and 15 weapons had also been seized.

But Det Supt Thomson admitted: "We can never be complacent. I think we
have taken a step forward in bringing a positive way forward. But I
think we have just taken a step.

"Do we think that we've cured the problem? Absolutely not. That would
be very naive. What we have to try and create is a hostile environment
for dealers so that the public can be assured that Grampian Police
will take action and that dealers will get the message."

Chief Superintendent Albert Donald, the divisional commander, said:
"Lochnagar doesn't finish now. Lochnagar continues and it may well be
done in a different way."

Fergus Ewing, the minister for community safety, praised the force's
initiative.

He said: "The actions taken by Grampian Police and their law
enforcement partners over the last two weeks have struck a real blow
against those criminals preying on Aberdeen's citizens through drug
dealing and other forms of antisocial behaviour."

Meanwhile, Tayside Police yesterday revealed that cocaine with an
estimated street value of ?12,500 and heroin worth about ?8,500 had
been seized during a raid at a house in the Kirkton area of Dundee on
Thursday.

Two men, aged 29 and 30, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
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