Six held after major drugs operation

SIX people have been arrested following a major police operation targeting drug dealers in Shetland this week.

Specialist officers from the organised crime and counter terrorism unit (OCCTU) for the north of Scotland flew up to the islands to work with the local police force and the Dogs Against Drugs charity.

During Tuesday and Wednesday they raided six addresses in the Lerwick area and six people are now due to appear in Lerwick Sheriff Court facing charges related to the supply of drugs.

Shetland area commander Angus McInnes welcomed the help from the specialist unit in carrying out the targeted raids, which were based on local intelligence.

The chief inspector said: “As the area commander I welcome the access to the wider Police Scotland resources that have assisted us.

“This demonstrates our ongoing commitment to addressing national and local issues and contributes to keeping people safe.”

Detective superintendent Phil Chapman, who leads the specialist unit, said they had “visited” the addresses “in direct response to an intelligence picture which we have built up concerning the availability of a range of drugs in the community”.

He said: “Specialist officers from the OCCTU have worked closely with officers from local policing to ensure our activity is as focused and as impactive as possible.

Advertisement4 of 10

“Specialist Crime Division will support local policing and communities where issues requiring the skills of specially-trained officers are required.

“There is no community in Scotland which is immune from the potential reach of organised crime. But there is also no community in Scotland which is out of our reach in terms of how we respond.

“Our activity today will help to send a clear message out that we will make our communities hostile environments for criminals and that communities can be assured that resources like the Specialist Crime Division will be fully utilised to help keep people safe.”