Police swooped on addresses across the Highlands yesterday as part of a major operation against illegal drugs.
Four men and two women were arrested after specialist officers wearing riot gear targeted properties in Aviemore and Inverness during a series of dawn raids.
Operation Cambridge was aimed at disrupting the supply of heroin into the Highlands from an organised crime group based in north-west England.
The officer leading the swoops said criminal gangs focused on areas such as the north because they believe the relatively low crime rate means police are “more laid back” – and that yesterday’s action was intended to explode that myth.
A quantity of controlled drugs were seized, as well as sums of cash suspected to be the proceeds of money laundering.
Officers from the north were involved in a related operation at 15 addresses in the Liverpool area earlier this week.
It is understood 11 people were arrested during the Merseyside sting.
Reports will now be sent to the procurator fiscal, who will decide if charges will be pursued.
People arrested in England will be prosecuted in Scotland.
Last night the officer in charge of the operation said the criminals behind the supply of drugs to the north were bringing “misery to the community”.
Detective Inspector Peter Mackenzie, of the organised crime and counter terrorism unit, said he wanted to make the Highlands “a hostile area” for drug dealers.
He said: “This operation has been running for several months in relation to the investigation into the supply of heroin and money laundering by a Merseyside-based organised crime group.
“I must reiterate that the Highlands is still a very safe place to live and crime is very low, however, these individuals do not see borders or obstacles and they will target our communities.
“The operation has been ongoing for several months, which has allowed us to gather intelligence and sufficiency of evidence to move to this stage of the enforcement, whereby we execute warrants and arrest those involved in the supply of heroin.”
He said the raids sent a message to criminals that the police would do everything in their power to target organised crime.
He added: “It’s not just the Highlands that are targeted – these groups target other places in the UK where they believe there are relatively low levels of crime and potentially more laid back approach in policing.
“Our point is that this is not the case. We take everything very seriously and employ the same tactics as in our cities.”
Det Insp Mackenzie said operations would continue to target those higher up the supply chain.
The raids were launched at around 8.30am yesterday, with officers targeting a property in the centre of Aviemore and two in Inverness.
Later, there were surprise visits to two more flats in Inverness.
The Aviemore property was a ground floor flat in a housing estate close to the centre of the village.
A turquoise green Nissan Almera parked outside was also searched.
The Inverness operations, which lasted all day, included four addresses in South Kessock and one in Culduthel.
A police riot van, carrying equipment for breaking down doors, was deployed at most of the raids, although in some cases, officers found the doors unlocked.
A dog and handler helped officers carry out detailed searches at each property.
Three people – two men and a woman – were led from one address in South Kessock.
Drugs have arrived in small Highland communities
The police raids yesterday served to show the spread of illegal drugs into quiet residential areas.
Wearing protective vests, helmets and visors, police officers burst into a ground floor flat in Aviemore shortly after 8.30am.
Minutes later, neighbours emerged to take their children to the local primary school as if nothing was happening.
The cul-de-sac, in the centre of the village and with views up to Craigellachie hill, was completed only recently.
Children’s toys could be seen in the porch and garden of the ground floor flat targeted by police.
Some neighbours came out into the street carrying breakfast coffee mugs to watch the activity, while others stared as they passed by during their morning dog walks.
Canine curtain twitchers were also in evidence as the police activity attracted barks from household pets, which climbed onto windowsills to get a better view.
In Inverness, one address raided was on a busy road in South Kessock and several vehicles were seen slowing so those inside could observe the action.
Later, officers moved to another flat two miles across the city in Culduthel.
As they burst into the ground floor property – in a quiet cul-de-sac, surrounded by parkland and trees – youngsters from Inverness Royal Academy were pouring out of school for their lunchtime break.
Officers yelled: “Police, police, police” to disorientate the householders as they streamed into the hall.
As the search started in earnest, two uniformed officers took on the unenviable job of searching a bin containing food waste.
The downcast occupants of the property were later taken out in handcuffs and led to waiting police cars.
They are expected to appear in court at a later date.