Police have charged eight people this week in connection with the recovery of large amounts of cannabis, amphetamine, diazepam and heroin from addresses in Stoneyburn, Bathgate, Livingston and Blackburn during a week of action as part of Operation Jigsaw.

Officers from the community action team and the divisional pro-active unit arrested a 22-year-old man following the search of an address in Blackburn where £280 worth of cannabis was discovered on Wednesday 18th January.

Addresses in the Livingston and Blackburn areas of West Lothian were also searched under warrant on Wednesday with drugs including cannabis, amphetamine and diazepam worth £870 recovered.

On Thursday 19th January a house search at Cuthill Crescent in Stoneyburn resulted in the discovery of a cannabis cultivation with drugs valued at £27,000. A 28-year-old male was arrested and charged. He will appear in court at a later date.

Officers, responding to intelligence searched a house in Ryebank, Livingston on Thursday 19th January and recovered £1800 of heroin along with £1190 in cash.

A 33-year-old male and 28-year-old female were arrested and charged in connection with the supply of drugs.  They were due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court, today, Friday 20th January.

Further house searches were made at addresses in Jubilee Road and Braefoot in Whitburn and Kennilworth Rise in Livingston during this week of action, however no drugs were recovered.

Four people have also been charged with offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act and reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

In addition, officers from Operation Jigsaw have been targeting violent offenders this week and making inquiries into outstanding warrants for those wanted in connection with crimes of violence.

Officers have also continued to ensure offenders on bail are adhering to the bail conditions, resulting in two 27-year-old males reported to the Procurator Fiscal for bail related offences.

Inspector Adam Smith from Livingston Police Station said; “We are committed to reducing instances of violent offending and continue to work with our partners to bring offenders to justice and make our communities safer.”

“The public have also made it clear to us that they will not tolerate drug crime in their neighbourhoods, and we remain focussed on tackling all drug dealing activity in West Lothian.”

“If you have information relating to criminal activity in your area then please contact us on 101 or make an anonymous report through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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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.