Police in the Highlands have seized more than £160,000 worth of illegal drugs in two separate incidents, leading to four arrests across the Moray and Tain areas.
Officers acting under warrant entered a property in the Urquhart area of Moray on Thursday 9 October and recovered quantities of herbal cannabis, cannabis resin, and cannabis plants with an estimated street value of £73,000.
A 16-year-old male and a 53-year-old man were arrested and charged in connection with the recovery.
Both were released on an undertaking and are expected to appear in court at a later date.
The raid formed part of a broader effort to disrupt illegal drug activity across the north of Scotland, with officers saying the recovery highlighted the need for continued vigilance and public cooperation.
Just two days later, on Saturday 11 October, officers from the Highlands and Islands Road Policing Unit stopped a vehicle on the A9 near Tain and discovered a significant haul of Class A drugs.
Inside the car, police recovered MDMA with an estimated street value of £80,000 and cocaine worth around £12,900.
A 39-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman were arrested and charged following the search, which took place around 4.40pm.
Constable Connor Milne, of the Highlands and Islands Road Policing Unit, described the stop as a “significant recovery” and said the seizure underlined ongoing efforts to tackle serious criminality in the region.
“This demonstrates our continued efforts to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs and reduce the harm they cause in our communities,” he said.
He also credited the intelligence-led operation as part of wider work under the Serious Organised Crime Strategy and the Scottish Government’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce.
The two individuals arrested near Tain have not been named.
Further investigations are now under way to understand the circumstances surrounding the transport and intended distribution of the drugs.
Communities across the Highlands and Islands have long expressed concern about the link between organised drug supply routes and local harm, particularly in rural and coastal towns where enforcement is complex and resources are stretched.
Police Scotland is encouraging anyone with concerns about drugs in their area to contact 101, or to pass information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
