Drugs worth £1.6m seized from vans and container on dirt track

Police made the discovery at around 4.45pm on Tuesday.

Published 24th Oct 2019

Police have seized £1.6 million worth of drugs from two vans and a container on a dirt track.

Officers inspected the two vehicles in Arbuckle Road in Plains, North Lanarkshire, at around 4.45pm on Tuesday.

They found around 22kg of what appeared to be herbal cannabis in the first vehicle, a Vauxhall Vivaro, and around 55kg of suspected herbal cannabis in the second vehicle, a Ford Transit van.

Further along the dirt track they discovered a large container with 90kg of herbal cannabis and 150g of what is believed to be heroin inside it.

The drugs seized have an estimated street value of £1.6 million.

Detective Inspector Andrew MacLean said: "It's evident this operation was being directed by people involved in serious and organised crime.

"Discovering and dismantling this site will cause a massive disruption to a criminal drugs network.

"People involved in the production and cultivation of drugs care nothing for people, all they are interested in is making money.

"Removing these drugs and thereby the money that would have come from them will have a significant impact and hit them where it hurts, their pockets.''

He added: "We will continue to target those involved in criminal activity and we do so with the help and co-operation of the public.

"We also work closely with our partners, sharing information and ensuring adequate resources are assigned as we all work together to tackle drug dealing and serious and organised crime groups behind such ventures."

Scenes of crime officers have been systematically searching the area as part of the ongoing investigation and the police helicopter and dog branch have been involved.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained.