POLICE today revealed that 21 people have been charged following a major investigation into organised crime in the Edinburgh area.
The men and women were arrested following an operation yesterday mounted by detectives from the Specialist Crime Division’s Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism unit.
Operation Amyloid one of the biggest swoops in Edinburgh for years saw early morning searches at addresses in Liberton, Gilmerton and Craigmillar.
Police said 170 officers were involved in raids on 22 homes. Two businesses were also visited by Trading Standards, Customs officals and the Health and Safety Executive.
As a result of the operation, a kilo of heroin worth £100,000 was recovered at a home in Niddrie. Heroin, drug paraphernalia and a quarter kilo of cannabis were seized along with around £5,000 from addresses across the south-east of the city.
Earlier, £5,000 in cash was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act from a property in Balmwell Avenue on Thursday.
Fourteen men – aged 21, 25, 25, 25, 24, 29, 44, 21, 22, 22, 47, 48, 26 and 28 – and six women – aged 25, 26, 24, 27, 44 and 19 – are expected appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Courtwhile a 27-year-old woman has also been reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
Detective Chief Inspector Kenny Gray, from the OCCTU, said: “This operation has been the culmination of months of intelligence gathering, but I want to make it clear that it isn’t over.”
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