Organised crime has taken a hit in Dundee with a group in Kirkton being just one criminal network disrupted as part of covert police operations.
Operation Adelong, part of a wider Operation Quay, saw a number of “high level” individuals involved in organised crime targeted, their assets seized and more than £100,000 of drugs taken off the streets.
Details of the operation, which ran from August last year until January, have been made public after months of police work.
Speaking exclusively to The Courier, Chief Inspector David McIntosh said the operation has not only resulted in the arrests of 35 people, but also involved the execution of 21 drugs search warrants which resulted in significant amounts of illegal substances being seized.
He said: “Drugs areobviously a big issue and part of Operation Quay was Operation Adelong. This was an operation to target those involved in serious organised crime in Dundee.
“We have targeted people’s assets, the proceeds of crime. If we target their ability to fund their supply we can dismantle the whole group.
“We are looking at how we can disrupt criminality and Kirkton was a priority area as well.”
Officers seized £81,000 of heroin, £36,000 of cocaine and more than £3,000 of cannabis and diazepam.
Operation Quay was an over-arching violence reduction operation in Dundee with a number of aspects to it, including proactive work around hotspots which saw officers moved in to increase patrols in those areas. These included the city centre and the bottom of Hilltown.
Police actions also included preventative measures such as visiting bookmakers which may be the targets of thefts over the festive period, and visiting the homes of people who have previously committed domestic violence and giving support to victims.
Community engagement was also a key part of the operation and a football mentoring programme has seen youths in Kirkton working towards coaching qualifications.
The operation also feeds into other police operations, which have seen more community officers being moved into key areas.
Mr McIntosh said: “Across the board the operation has been very successful.
“Our communities are safer and people feel safer as a result.
“Community safety ties in with some of our work especially around Kirkton that has been a real positive story.”
Mr McIntosh said community working was key to reducing low level crime, which could spiral into worse offending.
He was encouraged by police figures showing a 7.3% fall in antisocial behaviour over the year which he said resulted in around 900 less victims.