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| Drugs raids capture 101 suspects | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde have made 101 arrests following one of the biggest drugs operations in Scottish history. | Police in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde have made 101 arrests following one of the biggest drugs operations in Scottish history. |
| Thousands of pounds worth of class A drugs were seized during Operation Triplicate, involving 500 officers, and 863 charges are being brought. | Thousands of pounds worth of class A drugs were seized during Operation Triplicate, involving 500 officers, and 863 charges are being brought. |
| Over the past seven days officers have carried out raids at 80 locations. | Over the past seven days officers have carried out raids at 80 locations. |
| The suspects are expected to appear either at Paisley Sheriff Court or Greenock Sheriff Court. | The suspects are expected to appear either at Paisley Sheriff Court or Greenock Sheriff Court. |
| A total of 101 people were arrested, more than £110,000 cash was confiscated and £154,000 worth of drugs, including heroin, cocaine and 30,000 diazepam tablets were seized. | A total of 101 people were arrested, more than £110,000 cash was confiscated and £154,000 worth of drugs, including heroin, cocaine and 30,000 diazepam tablets were seized. |
| We intend to put the criminal fraternity in our division on the back foot, never knowing when we will strike next Superintendent Russell Irvine | We intend to put the criminal fraternity in our division on the back foot, never knowing when we will strike next Superintendent Russell Irvine |
| Supt Russell Irvine, deputy divisional commander for the area, said: "Clearly this has been an ambitious operation, the scale of which has never before been undertaken in Strathclyde. | Supt Russell Irvine, deputy divisional commander for the area, said: "Clearly this has been an ambitious operation, the scale of which has never before been undertaken in Strathclyde. |
| "It is essential that any action taken by the police impacts positively on the availability of controlled drugs at a street level and I hope the public can once again be reassured that we are determined to tackle all of the issues surrounding the distribution of drugs within our communities." | "It is essential that any action taken by the police impacts positively on the availability of controlled drugs at a street level and I hope the public can once again be reassured that we are determined to tackle all of the issues surrounding the distribution of drugs within our communities." |
| The police worked with other agencies and departments, including the area procurator fiscal office, both Renfrewshire and Inverclyde councils and the local alcohol and drug action team. | |
| Thousands of pounds worth of cocaine and heroin were found | Thousands of pounds worth of cocaine and heroin were found |
| The operation took months of planning and coincided with the Scottish Executive's national campaign Drug Dealers Don't Care - Do You? | |
| The campaign used the Crimestoppers helpline, 0800 555 111, to encourage more people to report drug dealing and dealers in local communities. | The campaign used the Crimestoppers helpline, 0800 555 111, to encourage more people to report drug dealing and dealers in local communities. |
| Ch Supt Johnny Gwynne, divisional commander for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, added: "I am absolutely delighted that so many local people have had the courage to pick up the phone and tell us what they know about local drug dealers in their area." | |
| Of those arrested, 61 have already appeared in court and 18 have been remanded in custody with the remainder being bailed. | Of those arrested, 61 have already appeared in court and 18 have been remanded in custody with the remainder being bailed. |
| Supt Irvine stressed it was not a one-off operation. | Supt Irvine stressed it was not a one-off operation. |
| He added: "We intend to put the criminal fraternity in our division on the back foot, never knowing when we will strike next." | He added: "We intend to put the criminal fraternity in our division on the back foot, never knowing when we will strike next." |