Twenty one people have been charged with various organised crime offences following a Police Scotland operation in Edinburgh yesterday.
Detectives from the Specialist Crime Division’s Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism unit supported local policing teams in Edinburgh to carry our early morning searches at addresses in Liberton, Gilmerton and Craigmillar.
As part of Operation Amyloid, one of the largest organised crime operations in Edinburgh for years, 22 residential properties in total were targeted involving more than 170 officers.
In addition, two business premises were also visited along with partners from Trading Standards, HMRC and Health and Safety Executive.
As a result, a kilo of heroin worth £100,000 was recovered at a home in Niddrie. Further dealer quantities of heroin, drug paraphernalia and a quarter kilo of cannabis were seized along with around £5,000 were also taken from addresses across the South East of the city.
Prior to this activity £5,000 in cash was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act from a property in Balmwell Avenue on Thursday 29th October in connection with the investigation.
Fourteen men aged 21, 25, 25, 25, 24, 29, 44, 21, 22, 22, 47, 48, 26 and 28 and six women aged 25, 26, 24, 27, 44 and 19 are expected appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court while a 27-year-old woman has also been reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
Detective Chief Inspector Kenny Gray from the OCCTU said: “This operation has been the culmination of months of intelligence gathering, but I want to make it clear that it isn’t over.
“Police Scotland will continue to target those involved in serious and organised crime throughout Edinburgh and to send a message that these sort of offences will not be tolerated.
“Organised crime preys on the decent hardworking people within our communities through different methods – be it drugs, counterfeit goods or even violence and intimidation and we have worked closely with local officers to reassure the public that Edinburgh is no safe haven for criminals.”
Chief Inspector Mark Rennie, Local Area Commander for South Edinburgh said: “Our engagement with residents as part of our multi-member ward consultation highlighted drug dealing as an area of significant concern for the local community in South East Edinburgh
“The extensive activity carried out as part of this operation demonstrates our clear commitment to respond to those concerns and target those criminals involved in serious and organised crime.
“We couldn’t have carried out the operation without the support of the local community and I’d like to thank them for continuing to provide us with information regarding those involved in crime in the area.
“Following the operation, local community officers have been on patrol to reassure residents and deliver information leaflets.
“Already this year Edinburgh Division has seized in excess of £4million worth of assets and money from criminals using POCA legislation and arrested 150 individuals linked to organised crime.
“I have no doubt our activity will significantly impact upon criminal networks in the city.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
