Six arrested in Aberdeen as police target county lines operations

Six men have been arrested in Aberdeen in a national crackdown on alleged drug dealing.

Officers took part in a week of action on so-called county lines, where criminals from larger cities expand their operations into smaller towns.

It often leads to the exploitation of young and vulnerable people to sell drugs, and even the taking over of people's homes - known as cuckooing.

Police raided a house on Stafford Street and arrested two men, aged 36 and 45, for being in possession of heroin.

They also arrested 42-year-old man for possession of crack cocaine at a house on Granton Place.

Elsewhere, two men aged 31 and 25 were arrested for possession of cannabis, and officers seized £1,000 from them.

A 27-year-old man was arrested and found to be in possession of heroin, after his car was stopped in Summerhill.

Across Scotland, 20 people were arrested, and drugs worth an estimated £40,000 were seized - along with £20,000 in cash, weapons, phones, a laptop and counterfeit cash.

Officers spoke to 29 vulnerable people and visited 64 addresses believed to be used for cuckooing.

Police Scotland’s Assistant Chief Constable Pat Campbell said: "County Lines gangs are not welcome in Scotland. They groom and exploit the most vulnerable people in our communities including children and young people.

"People are intimidated, coerced, threatened and force into storing or selling drugs.

"Our officers remain absolutely committed to working with our partners to reduce the exploitation of vulnerable people and safeguard individuals who may be at risk, and pursue offenders.

"Together we will provide support to those targeted by unscrupulous criminals, to reduce ongoing risk and enable recovery; and we will continue to make Scotland a hostile environment to those who seek to engage in criminal activity.

"The positive results during the day of action are an example of this work which will continue in support of the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy and the Drug Harm Reduction Strategy.

"As ever, I would urge anyone with concerns to report them to Police Scotland or alternatively to Crimestoppers anonymously."