A targeted police raid on a County Lines drug gang has uncovered more than £31,000 worth of crack cocaine and heroin.
Police Scotland officers carried out searches at nine properties in the Garthdee, Rosemount, Bucksburn and Bridge of Don areas of Aberdeen on Thursday, June 24.
Alongside the large quantity of illegal drugs, police also discovered almost £20,000 in cash during Operation Makeshift.
Three men, aged 22, 35 and 47, have been arrested and charged in connection with drug supply offences.
They are due to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on today.
County Lines groups typically use young or vulnerable people to deliver or store drugs, and to sell to customers.
This can involve intimidation, violence and in some cases the sexual exploitation of young people.
Members of a group may take over a vulnerable person's home as a base to conduct their operations from, often coercing the person into helping them through violence or threats of violence.
Detective Inspector Martyn Thomson said of the operation: "Pro-actively targeting organised crime groups who exploit vulnerable people and import drugs into our communities for their own illicit gain remains a priority for our officers.
"Today's operation shows we're committed to identifying the supply chain of drugs and disrupting the activity of people intent on bringing them to the North East.
“Drugs cause nothing but harm and despair to families and communities. However we can't do this alone.
“The public continue to play a vital role in assisting investigations into drug crime and I would encourage anyone who believes an individual or property within their community may be being exploited for criminal purposes to contact Police Scotland.
“If you have any concerns about drugs, or have information about those involved in drugs, you can contact police on 101 or make an anonymous report to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
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