Police have recovered more than £4 million worth of drugs and over £100,000 in cash across the North East Division during April, with activity stretching into Moray and the wider Highland area.
The operation, led by Police Scotland, resulted in 42 arrests and the seizure of significant quantities of heroin, cocaine and cannabis following proactive work across Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
While centred in the north east, the impact reaches into the greater Highland region, where Moray forms part of the wider Highlands and Islands economy and community network.
Officers say organised groups are increasingly using rental properties to cultivate cannabis, often targeting top floor flats and homes with loft space to create hidden growing operations.
These properties can appear empty to neighbours, with blacked out windows and only brief visits from those involved in maintaining the crop.
In many cases, electricity supplies are illegally bypassed to power the cultivation, creating serious fire risks not just for the property but for surrounding homes.
One such incident was uncovered on Pitmedden Road in Aberdeen, where emergency services forced entry after a fire linked to an electricity meter, discovering more than 300 cannabis plants inside.
A man has since been charged in connection with drugs offences following that discovery.
Jamie Sherlock said the scale of activity highlights the ongoing challenge facing communities.
“We are committed to disrupting the supply of drugs in our area and through proactive work have seized and dismantled a significant number of illegal substances this month.
“Cannabis is an illegal drug, and its manufacturing is against the law.
“In production cases, this often masks other forms of serious and organised criminality.
“Criminals often use rental properties which, to neighbours, may appear unoccupied.
“They are also actively looking for upper storey flats or those with loft spaces that landlords may not be aware are being used for this function.
“I’d ask residents and neighbours to be vigilant of properties which may be visited for short periods of time in the space of a week or fortnight and look like no one lives there with covered or blacked-out windows.
“Tampering with power supplies to bypass mains electricity is extremely dangerous not only for the address itself but for neighbouring and adjacent properties.
“Cannabis farms use substantial amounts of electricity, and the risk of fire is increased with overloaded circuits.
“We are determined to protect the public from this harmful criminality by disrupting the drugs trade and preventing them being circulated on the streets of Scotland.
“Information from the public is vital.
“We would ask anyone with information or concerns about drugs in their community or a property in their area, to contact us.”
Police say community awareness remains a key part of tackling the issue, particularly in rural and semi rural areas where unusual activity can be harder to spot.
For Highland communities, the message is clear, organised crime does not stop at regional boundaries and vigilance remains essential.
Anyone with concerns is encouraged to contact Police Scotland via 101, with emergencies always reported through 999.
Further information for landlords is available at: cannabis-cultivation-what-i-should-know-as-a-landlord.pdf
