A FURTHER SEVEN arrests have been made in Moray as police continued their clampdown on drugs dealing in the region.
Police acted on drug warrants on Thursday when they raided premises in Den Crescent and Mar Place, Keith and a further property on the outskirts of the town. They also raided properties in the Fraser Road area of Burghead, Covesea Road in Elgin and the Urquhart Lane and Nicholson Place areas of Forres.
As a result seven people have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal in relation to possession of cocaine, diazepam, cannabis and methadone – in addition, £2000 in cash was recovered under Proceeds of Crime legislation.
The seven include five men aged between 28 and 55 and two women aged 28 and 38. The operation came less than a week after a day of action in Elgin on April 22 that saw 10 arrested on drugs offences and others for different offences.
Police say that the latest operation was the result of intelligence in response to concerns raised by local communities in Moray. Officers from community policing teams in Buckie, Keith, Forres and Elgin were involved with support from specialist officers from the Operational Support Unit, CID Pro-Active Unit, Divisional Violence Reduction Unit, Divisional Organised Crime Unit and police dogs and handlers.
Elgin Community Policing Team Inspector Paul McCruden said: “The action carried out across Moray on Thursday this week and Friday last week shows that we will take enforcement action on those dealing drugs wherever they stay.
“We will disrupt their activities and take away their drugs and money and report them to the courts. We are only able to do that with the support of the public who don’t want drug dealers operating on their street.
“Anyone who has information should contact us on 101, send us an email, alert Crimestoppers anonymously or speak with their local policing team. As you can see from the activity carried out over the past week, we will act on information received.”