Drug factories busted in series of raids

Colin Hutton • Published 18 Aug 2009 16:00

Sex offenders and known criminals also targeted

A NUMBER of drug factories have been busted during co-ordinated raids by police.

As part of a force-wide initiative - called Operation Fleet - all registered sex offenders in the area were also visited, along with known criminals.

More than 200 officers were involved in the day of action on Thursday in Dumbarton, the Vale, Loch Lomondside and neighbouring Clydebank.

Police were also acting on intelligence and patrolling crime hotspots.

The operations started at 7am with there were a series of simultaneous raids on suspected drug dens - resulting in 16 arrests.

It is believed that during one of the drug raids more than a dozen cannabis plants were found in a property in Dumbarton, while another significant find was made at a home in Creveul Court, Alexandria.

Police also targeted a number of other crimes, including violence, disorder, anti-social behaviour and traffic violations.

A total of 149 people were searched for a variety of reasons during the 19-hour initiative, 83 licensed premises were visited and nine fixed penalty notices were issued for drinking on the street.

Known teen gang areas, such as Balloch Road, had high visibility patrols with both the mounted and dog branches on the streets.

The marine unit was out on Loch Lomond which led to one group being warned over their conduct for using jet-skis in an area where swimmers were present.

And 27 vehicles were also removed from the roads for being unsafe or having no insurance after a crackdown on the roadside and at Vale of Leven Industrial Estate.

Tweet

This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 18 Aug 09

Follow @dumbartonreport

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.