Three men responsible for the distribution of drugs and counterfeit cash in Edinburgh have today been jailed.
At the High Court in Edinburgh Jason Forbes was sentenced to 32 months in prison while Darren Hendren was given a 20-month sentence. Edmond Reid received two 36-month prison sentences, which will run concurrently.
Between October 2012 and May 2013 officers from the Organised Crime Counter Terrorism Unit carried out surveillance activity within the Inch and Niddrie areas of the city as part of Operation Harvester.
As a result, almost £10,000 in forged notes was seized from an address in Niddrie Marischal Crescent in January before one kilo of cannabis and 576grams of diamorphine were recovered during a search of a property in Cumnor Crescent in May.
Reid and Handren were detained during the raid at Cumnor Crescent and were subsequently charged while Forbes was arrested in September during follow up enquiries under Operation Harvester.
Detective Superintendent David Gordon said: “All three individuals were identified during Operation Harvester as being key players in the supply of drugs and counterfeit money within the Capital and following a thorough investigation and significant surveillance activity they were all subsequently arrested and charged.
“At the culmination of this operation officers from the OCCTU recovered large quantities of harmful drugs before they could be distributed within our communities along with several thousands of pounds in forged cash.
“Forbes, Reid and Hendren had been conducting their illegal activity within the Inch for some time and believed that they were immune to police reprisal. However, with the support of the local public they have now been removed from the area and will spend significant time in prison.
“The sentences handed to each of them today reflects the continued commitment of Police Scotland and the Crown Office to identify those involved in serious and organised crime and bring them to justice.
“If you wish to report a crime in your area then please contact us on 101, speak with your local policing team or make an anonymous report through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
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