Seven men have been arrested and charged after police uncovered two major cannabis cultivations in Aberdeen, with a combined street value exceeding £1.7 million.
Officers swooped on a property in Dee Street on Friday 22 August, where they discovered a large-scale cannabis grow worth around £1,304,000.
Four men, aged 30, 35, 35 and 40, were arrested and later charged.
They were due to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday 25 August.
Just days later, on Monday 25 August, police recovered a second cultivation, this time on Union Street with an estimated street value of £419,000.
A further three men, aged 21, 35 and 36, were arrested and charged.
They are expected in court today, Tuesday 26 August.
The raids are part of a sustained crackdown on serious organised crime across Scotland, as Police Scotland continues to target networks operating within both urban and rural communities.
Detective Inspector Andrew Machray said:
“These significant recoveries highlight our commitment to disrupting drug-related crime in our communities.
“It also reinforces our ongoing commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy.”
While both operations were carried out in Aberdeen, authorities emphasise that the ripple effects of such criminal activity are felt far beyond the city limits, with drugs trafficked up and down the A96 corridor, across Moray and into the Highlands and Islands.
The Highlands are not immune.
Organised crime groups increasingly see rural areas, from Inverness and Elgin to Wick as fertile ground for expanding their supply chains.
Police say they are working tirelessly to keep them out.
Police are urging the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity in their area.
“Information from the public is vital in removing drugs from our communities,” added DI Machray.
“I would encourage anyone with concerns around drugs to contact Police Scotland on 101 or, anonymously, via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
The investigation is ongoing.
