Police seize cannabis valued at over £2.3million during raids in centre of Galashiels
Last updated 27th Mar 2024
Police have revealed they've seized cannabis with an estimated street value of over £2.3 million after raiding two empty shops in the centre of Galashiels.
Officers swooped on the former Woolworths and Ladbrokes stores - which sit on opposite sides of Channel Street - around 10am yesterday (Tuesday).
Five men - aged between 20 and 63 - have been arrested in connection with the discovery.
They're expected to appear at court later today.
The huge haul is believed to be the biggest ever seized in a single day in the Scottish Borders, and is almost double the 1,400 plants - valued at £1.2million - unearthed in a derelict mill in Selkirk last year.
It's not the first time the former bookmakers store has come to police attention.
In 2019, an Albanian man claiming to be a victim of human trafficking was jailed for 30 months for helping oversee a £200,000-plus cannabis cultivation in the building.
And the back entrance on Overhaugh Street is just yards from the front door of the former Warehouse nightclub, where a cannabis cultivation believed to be worth around £500,000 was unearthed in November.
Police today (Wednesday) revealed "significant quantities of cannabis" were recovered from both properties in Channel Street this time around, and further enquiries remain ongoing in the area.
Detective Sergeant Barry Roebuck, from Galashiels CID, said: “Taking drugs off the street is a priority for Police Scotland and information provided by the public is vital in helping us continue to do this.
“If you have any information or concerns about drug misuse, do not hesitate to contact Police Scotland on 101 or report this anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Chief Inspector Stuart Fletcher, Local Area Commander for the Scottish Borders, said: “We would like to thank the local community in Galashiels for their support and understanding as officers continue their activities in the area over the coming days.
“Drug misuse brings nothing but misery to our communities and I want to reassure people in the Scottish Borders that we will continue to use every tool and tactic at our disposal to target those involved in this criminal activity.”
More to follow...
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