SCDEA sees record arrests of serious criminals

Record arrests of serious organised criminals and targeted seizures of high-purity drugs overseas have been highlighted in the annual report from the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) published last week.

The SCDEA said the figures indicate a new effort to “hit serious organised crime where it hurts most”.

SCDEA investigations saw 67 individuals involved in serious organised crime arrested in 2009/10 – nearly 50 per cent above target and the biggest total ever arrested by the SCDEA in a single year.

With £22 million worth of criminal assets identified for restraint, the SCDEA exceeded its annual target of £8.5million by 158 per cent.

The SCDEA failed to meets its target for Class A drug seizures, securing 105kg in 2009/10. However, this includes 51kg of high-purity cocaine, which it is believed would have been bulked to over 400kg had it reached Scotland.

Deputy Chief Constable Gordon Meldrum, Director General, SCDEA, said: “Although seizures of Class A drugs during 2009-10 are not on the same overall scale as the exceptional record level we recovered in the preceding year, this masks the increasing impact we are making in intercepting drugs closer to their point of production.

“Every kilogram of cocaine bound for Scotland but seized abroad in a production country, such as Colombia, is roughly equivalent to around 8kg in Scotland. It is often even more when you take into account how much the drug is adulterated by callous criminals to maximise their profits.

“By sharing intelligence with law enforcement agencies around the world, we can stop serious organised crime groups firmly in their tracks. Rather than wait for these drugs to flood our streets, we are increasingly going directly to the point of production and providing partners in those countries with our intelligence so that they can intercept these individuals on our behalf.”

Mr Meldrum added that the arrests made by the SCDEA over the last year demonstrate a gradual shift in approach so that almost half of all arrests are of individuals directly involved in serious organised crime.

“The serious organised crime mapping information and the establishment of the Scottish Intelligence Coordination Unit, are central to this shift which has enabled us to identify the individuals and criminal groups that are causing the most harm – and target them,” said Mr Meldrum. “The top 20 most harmful groups in Scotland are all now under active investigation by a coalition of law enforcement agencies.

“Turning intelligence into action has helped us to target the right people with the right resources so we can hit serious organised crime where it hurts most.”

Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, added: “This report provides more evidence of the significant progress that is being made in tackling serious crime in Scotland.

“It is clear that the work done by the SCDEA is helping take gangsters off our streets, disrupting criminal networks and bringing respite to decent and hardworking people. The SCDEA is to be congratulated on its work – however, this is very much a work in progress as all law enforcement agencies work together to ensure the net continues to close more tightly around our most dangerous criminals.”