FIFTY OFFICERS SWOOP ON DUNDEE FLATSTWELVE SUSPECTS ARE CHARGED
Heroin dealers meet their Waterloo in Tayside raids
Published:
A dozen people were arrested yesterday as Tayside Police mounted one of their biggest ever crackdowns on Dundee drug dealers.
Those suspected of dealing in heroin were targeted in dawn raids on addresses by around 50 officers taking part in Operation Waterloo.
A “significant quantity” of the Class A drug and a four-figure cash sum was seized.
Last night 12 people were charged with drugs-related offences.
Specialist police teams used two-man battering rams to force their way into flats in the Hilltown and Stobswell areas of Dundee.
The operation was aimed at tackling on-street heroin dealing, violent crime associated with the trade and prostitution and theft.
It follows months of intelligence-gathering in response to 19 drug-related deaths in Dundee so far this year.
Three enforcement teams searched seven flats in city areas which included Dura Street, Fairbairn Street and Butterburn Court.
Officers in fire-resistant suits, body armour and helmets were followed into each flat by detectives, search teams and police dogs.
Drugs paraphernalia and mobile phones were also seized by officers executing arrest-and-search warrants.
Dundee-based Detective Chief Inspector Willie Semple said: ‘‘Operation Waterloo has given us a very successful day in terms of taking action against the people who are harming our communities.
‘‘I believe we have successfully targeted a number of key players in the supply of heroin in Dundee.
‘‘This type of action sends out a very clear message to everyone that drug dealing will not be tolerated by Tayside Police in Dundee.
“We will use every means at our disposal to get dealers off our streets and out of our communities, to put them before the courts where they face the full force of law.”
He added: “As far as tackling street-level heroin, this ranks as one of the biggest jobs we’ve done.
“It fits with our long-term strategy of significantly impacting on drug dealing and criminality in Dundee – and this will continue.”
Operation Waterloo will see extra officers on foot patrol in targeted areas.
Dundee divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Colin McCashey, said: ‘‘I am particularly concerned about the availability of controlled drugs, especially heroin, in the Hilltown area.
“There has been significant media coverage in recent weeks about this issue, which has included questions about what the police are doing.
‘‘I think people will understand that it is not always possible to release details of ongoing police operations, because it is absolutely essential that we secure all available evidence.”
Chief Supt McCashey added: ‘‘I am now able to state that in recent months Tayside Police has stepped up activities in the Hilltown area, not just to deal with the drugs menace, but also to tackle other crimes, including theft and robbery.”
People in Dundee are being urged to contact police with information or suspicions about drug dealers by calling 0845 6005705, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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