Police have urged north-east residents to reclaim their streets from drug gangs amid a major crackdown.
Officers are ramping up patrols to help drive the criminal groups out of Buchan following a massive “day of action”.
Sixteen homes in Fraserburgh and Peterhead were raided on Thursday as part of an operation to disrupt drug supplies to the north-east and kick organised crime groups from the north-west of England off the streets.
It included breaking down doors across the ports and – in one incident – even smashing through a suspect’s living room window to gain access to a property.
Ten people were charged with offences in relation to drugs following the busts, with officers recovering about £1,600 in cash.
The next step will be high visibility patrols across the towns as a show of force, alongside an appeal for local residents to report anyone believed to be supplying drugs in the north-east.
A spokeswoman for the force said any intelligence gathered will help make communities an “unwelcome, hostile place for criminals”.
Detective Inspector Stuart McAdam, who led Thursday’s raids, said last night that the dealers were only interested in making money – regardless of who suffered from the consequences.
“These criminals are intent on only one thing, and that’s making money at the expense of law-abiding people and businesses,” he said.
“The majority of them come from outwith the north-east so therefore don’t care about the consequences their actions can have on the communities they’re operating within.
“These communities belong to you – not them – and by having the confidence to tell us your concerns we can make it very difficult for organised crime groups to operate.”
Area commander Elaine Logue added: “Drugs breed nothing but further crime and anti-social behaviour and I cannot stress how unwanted they are in our communities.
“Do you have suspicions that a neighbour might be dealing drugs? Or are you a business owner who has concerns about a customer? Let your local officers know so that we can take action as quickly as possible to deter, disrupt and detect such activity.
“I hope that this targeted action will act as reassurance to the public that Police Scotland is doing all it can to make the area you live as safe as possible.
“Officers will be carrying out additional patrols in the coming days and I would urge anyone with concerns to approach them and let them know.”
Thursday’s raids formed part of Operation Aspen, which has already smashed 12 known gangs across the north-east.
It brought 30 officers from across Aberdeenshire to Fraserburgh and Peterhead who worked in teams to raid the properties.
As well as a barrage of verbal abuse they faced on doorsteps, they had to contend with people who were prepared for their arrival.
As soon as the first door was broken down, it was accepted that word about the police’s activities would spread like wildfire.
At one property, several planks of wood was used to make it harder for the front door to give way.
At another, junk including a duvet was propped against the door as a makeshift barricade.
Charles Buchan, a member of Fraserburgh’s safety group, joined in calling for local people to support the police’s efforts.
He said: “It’s really good that the police are mounting this operation, because drugs is an absolute curse.
“The idea we have people coming up from the south supplying these poisons is terrible, and I would urge for anyone who can give police information not to hesitate – do so immediately.”
