Police have charged more than 465 people with drugs offences in just two months in a major crackdown on the illicit trade across the north-east.
Significant amounts of illegal substances, including heroin and crack cocaine, have been recovered during May and June.
Officers have also seized more than £41,000 in cash believed to be related to crime in a series of raids.
The latest figures – which show more people were charged within that two-month period than at any other point in the past year – were revealed as 10 people were charged following seizures in Aberdeen.
Crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis worth an estimated £20,000 was recovered during two raids in the city’s Torry area.
Two people appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday after officers searched a property in Walker Road.
A 24-year-old man from Aberdeen and a 29-year-old man from Birmingham man both made no plea to charges relating to the production and supply of drugs.
They were each released on bail.
☑️ More than £41,000 in cash seized related to drug activity during the past two months
☑️ 465 people charged
Officers continued to seize significant quantities of illegal drugs during May & June across the #NorthEast. To read more visit – https://t.co/ifS5ZyDFQh pic.twitter.com/9RTdIkg0pB
— NorthEastPolice (@NorthEPolice) July 4, 2019
Another two women, aged 49 and 47, and six men, ranging in age between 34 and 59, are expected to appear in court today in connection with another seizure in the city’s Farquhar Road.
Torry-based Inspector Chris Kerr said: “We are committed to disrupting the illegal supply of drugs to our communities and we will use every resource available to us to target those intent on bringing drugs to the area.”
Police sources said they could not account for the significant number of people charged during May and June – about 100 up on the previous two months – with figures dependent on the number of calls from the public and other factors.
During those nine weeks, a man and woman were charged after cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and cannabis worth £20,000 was seized in Forres.
A stash of heroin was also recovered by police in Lossiemouth and a 46-year-old man charged.
In Aberdeen, a 38-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman were charged over a £64,000 cocaine haul in Northfield and a woman was caught at the train station with crack cocaine valued at £34,000.
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And heroin worth £22,000 was confiscated, and two men from London charged, after armed police stopped their vehicle on the A90 at Drumlithie due to concerns about the standard of their driving.
Detective Chief Inspector Lorna Ferguson pledged police in the north-east would continue their efforts.
She said: “Drug dealing has a hugely negative impact on users, their families and wider communities and so we are committed to carrying out activity every day to tackle the issue to improve the lives of those impacted.
“We need the public’s help to do this too, so please continue to let us know your concerns .
“No piece of information should be considered too small or irrelevant, as it may be the final piece we need to complete a bigger picture.”
