An Angus community taskforce has told organised criminals and drug-dealers, “We’re going to hit you where it hurts in the pocket.”
Inspector Adrian Robertson spoke after police seized £3000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act from a suspected criminal during a crackdown.
Mr Robertson said the man is known to be part of organised crime involving drugs and was pulled over while driving on a main road in Arbroath.
Officers confiscated the money because the man was unable to prove how he had attained the wad of notes.
Mr Robertson said, “The money was taken from an individual that we know is involved in organised crime, with drugs.
“We have means of targeting drug dealing in the area and this hits them in their pockets. Officers have ways of tracing people by following a cash trail.”
He added, “People in that line of business don’t do it for fun they do it for the money.
“If someone is known to be involved in drug-dealing and they are found with a large sum of money and they are not able to prove where they got it, officers will take it as proceeds of crime.
“It was part of our ongoing commitment to target organised crime and large scale drug dealing.
“It hopefully sends out a message to organised crime groups that they are going to come under the radar of the police and will be dealt with robustly.”
Officers seized the money as part of the community taskforce operation based in Carnoustie, Monifieth and Arbroath.
Officers also arrested and charged three people with culpable and reckless misconduct for throwing large items out of a flat window, while two others were allegedly caught red-handed carrying knives.
In the last month, the taskforce has also seized alcohol and drugs from the streets.
Four drug warrants were issued with two people reported for the possession of controlled drugs, while eight litres of alcohol were retrieved from youths in the area.
The team, made up of a sergeant and eight constables, was deployed to the towns to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime.
The community taskforce, which has been based in the region since the end of March, have also been focusing their attention on road traffic issues in recent weeks.
Officers have issued two anti-social behaviour orders to motorists. Two vehicles were seized for having no insurance and or no driving licences, while 18 drivers received warnings for minor traffic infringements.
People caught speeding, failing to obey a red light, with no insurance or MoT, using mobile phones or with illegal number plates were issued with 13 conditional offers. A total of 31 breath tests were also undertaken by motorists.
Mr Robertson said that the taskforce had carried out 80 hours of high-visibility patrols in Carnoustie and Arbroath since May 8, taking part in 25 searches for drugs, alcohol and knives.
He said, “We are into the third month of the deployment and I am satisfied that we have addressed the vast majority of issues that the public have raised with us, particularly anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related offending involving young people.
“A lot of the community taskforce activity has been centred on high-visibility proactive patrols and engaging with the local youths.”
For example, the taskforce has engaged with the youths at the Friday Night Project. It went to the Saltire in Arbroath and challenged local teams aged 10-15, to five-a-side football, which was very well received.