Bid to nail dealers is widened - drugs calls shoot up by 63 per cent

[January 2007]

A drive to help communities remove drug traffickers is being extended to Aberdeen, Dundee and South Lanarkshire and the public are being reminded that one call to Crimestoppers can cuff them!

The ‘Drug Dealers Don't Care. Do you?' campaign has enjoyed success elsewhere in Scotland; leading to a massive increase in tip offs and drug seizures.

Now a massive ‘injection of crooks' cash has funded the fresh crackdown.

The recent localised campaign in six council areas has been extended to take in Dundee, Aberdeen and South Lanarkshire and already the calls are pouring in since the latest wave of radio ads were broadcast on 4 January.

The £306,000 campaign, paid for entirely by the assets seized from criminals, is designed to encourage the public to give information anonymously to Crimestoppers about drug dealers.

This vital information is then passed on to the police to enable them to stop individuals peddling drugs.

Two previous campaigns, each lasting six weeks in 2005 and 2006, led directly to over 5,000 drugs-related calls to Crimestoppers, 530 arrests and the seizure of over £1.6million worth of cash and drugs.

Deputy Justice Minister Johann Lamont was in Wester Hailes in Edinburgh on 9 January, which was his first stop on a two week road show which will include Dundee and Aberdeen.

Ms Lamont said: “Drugs, and the callous criminals who peddle them, are a scourge on our society. Individuals, families and communities can all suffer from this evil trade.

“Crime in Scotland is falling and violent crime is at its lowest since devolution. However, there are still too many individuals making money out of being involved in drug dealing and drug trafficking.

And she warned those ‘Dealers in Death' that she would ensure that those communities hardest hit by serious crime would be helped to repair the damage and lead safer lives – all funded from criminals' pockets!

The latest phase of the Drug Dealers Don't Care campaign is running until 20 January 2007.

Det. Supt Gillian Wood, the national drugs co-ordinator with the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency welcomed the extension.

She added: “More dealers are being arrested; more networks and drugs factories disrupted, more hard drugs are being taken off the streets, and more assets of dealers frozen or seized.”

The drug war success helps the people of Scotland reclaim their communities from the threat and harm from drug dealers and drug-related crime.

Crooks' cash is also being re-invested in worst hit areas by The Scottish Executive. In Westerhailes for example, a new vehicle to tackle graffiti was demonstrated as Ms Lamont looked on.

If you have information about dealers call 0800 555 111 anonymously – now! Make that call. Make a difference. No-one will ever know.

Read more about Drug Dealers Don't Care in our archive.