Specialist Crime Division operation targets Shetland drug supply

27th November 2013

Police Scotland has yesterday and today carried out an operation in the Shetland Islands aimed at disrupting the availability of drugs in the community.

Officers from N Division and the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit (North) conducted the activity at six addresses in the Lerwick area. Six people have been detained as a result of the operation which has been intelligence-led. Six persons have been arrested and charged in connection with drug supply offences and are expected to appear at Lerwick Sheriff Court.

The Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit was introduced as part of the Specialist Crime Division of Police Scotland when the single service formed in April this year.

Det Supt Phil Chapman, who leads OCCTU North, said: \"We have visited a number of addresses in the Lerwick area yesterday and today and detained six people in direct response to an intelligence picture which we have built up concerning the availability of a range of drugs in the community.

\"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. 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.”

Chief Inspector Angus MacInnes, Area Commander for Shetland said: \"The communities in Shetland are aware of the impact of substance misuse, be it alcohol, synthetic highs or illegal drugs. In response to these multi member ward policing plan issuesPolice Scotland,both local policing based here in Shetland, assisted by Dogs Against Drugs handlers and drugs dogs,and specialist resources from throughout Scotlandhave carried out a number of pieces of work, including the activity of the past two days.

\"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.\"