MAJOR CRACKDOWN ON ORGANISED CRIME

HUNDREDS of arrests have been made, millions of pounds worth of drugs
seized and dozens of illegal guns confiscated in a series of co-ordinated
police operations.

Forces across Scotland co-operated under the Serious and Organised Crime
Taskforce in investigations and raids in the last five months which
resulted in major criminals being jailed for up to 10 years.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill welcomed the results of a progress
report yesterday and pledged to continue to support bids to crack down on
organised crime.

The taskforce report included details of a multi-agency operation, led by
Strathclyde Police, which involved visits to 200 licensed premises and
more than 111 sites protected by private security staff.

The operation led to 300 arrests, the seizure of drugs worth more than
?500,000 and 23 illegal weapons confiscated.

In Edinburgh and Midlothian, a key operator in the drugs market was jailed
for seven years following Operation Hurricane, set up to specifically
target cocaine supply.

In total, 6kgs of cocaine with a street value of ?300,000 was recovered
together with assets valued at ?64,633.

As part of Grampian Police's Operation Centaur, in Moray, four drug
dealers were jailed for a total of 23 years after supplying cocaine,
amphetamine and ecstasy.

Operation Aquarius in the west of Scotland led to an eight-year jail
sentence for Michael Nordon with custodial sentences also handed to eight
accomplices for drug dealing.

Overall, since September last year, there have been 472 arrests, drugs
with a value of ?13m and 42 firearms seized.

Kenny MacAskill said: "These operations show the police and other law
enforcement agencies are working hard to put the criminal gangs out of
business.

"However, they are also a stark reminder of the threat these gangsters
continue to pose to our citizens and the communities they live in.

"That is why there will be no let-up in the fight against these criminal
networks."