WATCH: Forth News joins Police Scotland on Edinburgh drugs raid

In a series of raids this week police in Edinburgh have seized £1.2m worth of drugs and arrested 25 people.

Officers in the capital were carrying out three days of action in a new move to try and tackle the high number of drug-related deaths throughout Scotland.

It involved raiding 31 properties over a three-day period after six months worth of intelligence gathering and planning.

Officers also uncovered over £270,000 in cash and referred 31 people to support services.

It's all part of a new approach to support offenders to access help instead of simply locking them up.

Detective Superintendent Martin Maclean of Edinburgh Division said: "In Scotland in 2017, two to three people died each day due to drugs.

“Almost half the people who died were men aged 35 to 54, with Edinburgh seeing the second highest number of drug-related deaths in Scotland.

“Removing illegal drugs from across Edinburgh and Scotland, and targeting criminals who seek to profit from causing others harm, continues to be a top priority for us and for our communities.

“Criminals involved in supply make money out of addiction and vulnerability. They risk people’s lives for financial gain and, often, use this to fund other forms of serious and organised crime.

“Operation Threshold demonstrates the resources and extensive intelligence-gathering techniques Police Scotland is willing to use, and the commitment of Edinburgh Division to tackling this criminality."