Detectives have charged eight people in connection with drug offences after a crackdown on serious organised crime in the north-east.
This week, police officers executed warrants at a variety of addresses in Fraserburgh and Peterhead.
Five men from the north-west of England were charged as a result of an “intelligence-led” action against gangs operating in the area and, in particular, those who deal illicit drugs.
Search warrants were executed at 11 other properties, while a 20-year-old man from Liverpool has been charged, following the recovery of cannabis and a quantity of cash from a property in the Hatton area on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a 31-year-old man from Manchester and a 19-year-old female from the Oldham area have been charged, after the recovery of Class A drugs with a street value of £9,000 from a vehicle travelling on the A90 to Aberdeen.
Detective Inspector Stewart Drummond said: “The north-east remains one of the safest places to live and, in the last year alone, officers have seized around £1million worth of drugs under Operation Aspen, our division-wide initiative to tackle drugs.
“In addition, so far this month, we’ve seized £300,000 worth of illicit drugs – the majority of which, without question, can be attributed to serious organised crime groups.”
DI Drummond insisted the force’s “ultimate aim” was to drive gangs who “prey” on the most vulnerable in society out of the area.
He added: “I would also like to remind the local community that they can play the most crucial role of all by telling us when and where suspicious activity is happening.”
