POLICE ON TRAIL OF INTERNET CANNABIS

Senior police officers have warned that drug dealers are selling
cannabis over the internet to Scots - and at least one customer in the
Grampian area could be facing prosecution.

The warning follows the arrests of three people in England on
suspicion of selling cannabis online.

Grampian Police yesterday revealed they were aware of one instance
this year of someone buying drugs from a foreign website. A report was
being sent to the procurator fiscal.

Strathclyde Police are investigating two cases of Scots ordering
cannabis from websites. The force's internet crime unit discovered the
sites were based abroad and alerted Interpol.

On Monday, a 37-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman from
Hertfordshire, and a 35-year-old man from Brighton were interviewed by
police after their computers were seized.

The arrests are thought to be the first in the UK of alleged dealers
selling and advertising drugs online. Officers are believed to be
analysing the computers to trace customers.

The three people arrested are suspected of setting up websites that
would allow customers to buy drugs online.

The websites have now been shut down.