Police officers with a sniffer dog crashed the party at a Moray nightspot and arrested three men as part of a drugs crackdown.
They targeted Joanna’s nightclub in the centre of Elgin and snared men aged 18, 23 and 29 on drugs possession charges.
The 18 and 29-year-old offenders were caught with cannabis, while the 23-year-old had both cannabis and cocaine.
The operation took place over the weekend, and yesterday officers said the arrests sent a strong message in their crusade to stamp out drug misuse.
Constable Lisa Short, from the divisional alcohol and violence reduction unit in Elgin, organised the clampdown.
She said “The operation was successful and a good opportunity to deter the misuse of drugs, and the associated anti-social behaviour it brings.
“Three people will be reported for drug offences after cocaine and cannabis was recovered.
“We will continue to tackle the misuse and sale of illegal drugs in Elgin and would encourage anyone with concerns to report them to us.”
The officers, who were accompanied by a dog trained to sniff out illegal substances and a dog handler, zoned in on the Elgin venue on Saturday night.
Joanna’s owners, Ron Farquharson and Gavin MacKenzie, backed the initiative and stressed that the club has a “zero tolerance” approach to drugs.
In a joint statement, they said: “We are delighted to be working alongside the police to stamp out drug misuse.
“Our door staff team are well trained and know what to look for when it comes to dealing with people suspected to be under the influence of drugs, or attempting to bring them into our club.
“The operation has been a great opportunity to work together to combat illegal drug use and to encourage the public to enjoy their night out without using drugs.
They added: “Anyone caught with drugs in our premises will be handed over to the police as well as banned from our businesses.
“We will continue to work with the police and help them in any way we can to prevent drugs coming into our club.”
