A SCOTTISH Borders councillor has been suspended after being charged with drug offences.
SNP councillor Aileen Orr was charged after the discovery of a cannabis farm in Paxton, Berwickshire last February.
Her son Duncan, 29, was also arrested and charged, though Orr “vehemently” denies the charges.
The SNP said the councillor had left the party whilst investigations continue, and she is set to appear in court at a later date.
Though she remains in her role as an elected representative for the East Berwickshire ward, Orr will sit as an independent.
Police discovered the cannabis farm on February 3, 2024 after receiving reports of men banging on the window of a remote property late at night.
Upon arrival, officers found no trace of the men but did uncover large amounts of cannabis with an estimated £500,000 street value.
At an event organised by the Scottish Police Federation and attended by Justice Secretary Angela Constance, Orr said she was "crying on the phone" and thought she "was going to die" when she called officers about two men outside the property.
It took 29 minutes for police to arrive according to Orr, who said that by that point the men had already left.
In a statement regarding the reporting of the charges, Orr said: "I categorically and vehemently deny any criminality alleged against me.
"I have never, nor would ever, knowingly allow a cannabis cultivation on any property I own.
"I had no access to the property at the time of this cannabis find and will allow due process by the authorities to establish this and to bring the perpetrators to justice."
She also expressed disappointment over her suspension from the SNP, adding that she had been “loyal” to the party for over 55 years and that she had followed “all internal party processes and the leadership of the SNP council group at SBC [Scottish Borders Council] were fully aware of events”.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 70-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man have been arrested and charged in connection with drugs offences after a cannabis cultivation was discovered at a property near Paxton around 12.55am on Saturday, 3 February, 2024.
"A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and they are expected to appear at court at a later date."
