NORTH RAIDS NET MASSIVE DRUG HAUL

Drugs with a street value of more than UKP300,000 were seized in the
Highlands' biggest-yet undercover narcotics operation yesterday.

The haul, including cannabis resin worth UKP250,000 and more than 1,000
ecstasy tablets, were seized in a series of dawn raids at 26 premises in
Inverness. Twelve people were arrested and four were still being questioned
last night. Several are expected to appear in court next week.

The operation involved 130 officers from across the region - half of
Northern Constabulary's normal daily strength - and the Scottish Crime Squad.

Police also carried out raids earlier this week in Inverness and Fort
William in which three men and a woman were arrested.

Yesterday's exercise, codenamed Operation Wedge, was the climax of six
months' work by the police. Officers, helped by sniffer dogs, recovered in
excess of 40 kilos of cannabis resin, along with ecstasy tablets, two
replica handguns and a shotgun, UKP50,000 in cash and a small quantity of
amphetamines.

Detective Superintendent Charles Hepburn, who was in charge of the
operation, said: "This is a major coup for us, but it is difficult to tell
how much of a dent this will put in the drug market in this area."

Det Supt Hepburn said the operation made it clear that despite their
six-strong drug and crime intelligence unit in Inverness having to be
disbanded due to funding difficulties, the force was not letting up in
their fight against drugs.

In its six months, the unit of uniformed officers and detectives seized
UKP65,000 worth of controlled drugs. Senior officers admitted that its
closure earlier this year would hamper efforts to clamp down on the flood
of drugs into the region.

But yesterday, Det Supt Hepburn said the latest drug haul showed that
significant resources were still being deployed to tackle the problem.

The cannabis haul - 10 brown blocks, each the size of a small cushion - was
put on display yesterday at Northern Constabulary's headquarters in Inverness.

Tip-offs from the public and information gathered by police helped the
force build up a picture of drug-dealing activity leading up to the swoops.

Chief Constable Bill Robertson told a press conference the raids
demonstrated to the public that the force was tackling the growing drugs
menace. But he expressed alarm that replica firearms had been seized as
well as drugs.

The police chief said it was vital to clamp down on cannabis as he believed
this opened the door to harder drugs.

Mr Robertson went on: "The drugs problem is one that the public in this
area is very concerned about and we intend to stamp it out as much as we
can. "I am delighted with the success of this operation. It is critical for
us to reassure people that we are working to tackle drugs in the Highlands."

The Chief Constable added: "People are getting rich quickly on selling
drugs and doing it at the expense of people in a prison of desperation."