Police have arrested eight men following a four month operation to bring down an organised crime group involved in the distribution of millions of pounds of drugs.
The men, aged 23, 28, 31, 39, 45, 47 and 53, were arrested by Police Scotland's Specialist Crime Division in Paisley, Johnstone, Lanarkshire, Hamilton. Another man, 45, was arrested in the Lincolnshire area following the four month covert, intelligence led operation, which spanned Glasgow, Renfrewshire and the Merseyside areas.
Since the start of the operation £7m of Class A and Class B drugs, mainly Amphetamine and Cocaine, have been seized by officers and 20 people have been arrested.
Detective Chief Superintendent John Cuddihy, head of Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism said: "Police Scotland remains absolutely determined to rid our communities of serious and organised criminal gangs and we will continue to relentlessly target those involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs.
"Today's operation undoubtedly shows the effectiveness of the Specialist Crime Division formed at the start of Police Scotland. OCCTU officers have worked with colleagues from the National Crime Agency and cross border with Merseyside Police throughout the operation. Hundreds of kilograms of Amphetamine have already been seized and significant amounts of class A and class B drugs have been taken off the streets of the west of Scotland.
"In total 20 people have been arrested since the start of this operation which undoubtedly has had a significant impact not only on an organised crime group and its ability to function but on the availability of these drugs in our communities. This work and our determination to disrupt those involved in illegal activities continues."
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