Police in Edinburgh and Lothians seized £395,000 in drugs YTD. Raids targeted cannabis farms across central Scotland.
The street value of the seized drugs was £3.6 million. In early 2025, officers raided two places, discovering about 500 cannabis plants in one location. The other contained £15,000 in drugs, including cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, and ecstasy.
Since 2025, over £3 million of cannabis has been seized in Scotland. Criminals often use empty buildings to grow cannabis on a large scale. Officers recovered plants valued at £3,425,000 in six weeks during 16 total raids.
A Greenock raid yielded £120,000 worth of plants, with 200 plants found in one property. In Motherwell, police stopped a man and woman and discovered £150,000 of cannabis in their possession.
DrugWise suggests that increased seizures indicate increased police action, not necessarily greater drug availability. A large warehouse find can skew statistics, reflecting a single event rather than a general increase in available drugs.
UK police warned of this trend last year, noting that crime groups utilize empty buildings for cannabis cultivation due to high street decline. The following are Police Scotland drug seizures reported this year.
On February 11, £120,000 worth of plants were found in Greenock. Also on February 11, £200,000 worth of plants were found in Aberdeenshire, resulting in the arrest and charging of four men. On February 10, £1,800 of cannabis was seized in Kirkcaldy.
February 8 saw the recovery of £100,000 of cannabis in Cardonald, leading to the arrest and charging of a man. On February 7, £150,000 of cannabis was seized in Motherwell. Police stopped a man and a woman, who were subsequently arrested and charged.
On February 6, £55,000 of drugs, consisting of cocaine and cannabis, were seized in Glasgow, along with cash and weapons, and three individuals were charged. February 4 saw the seizure of £289,000 of cannabis in Hawick; enquiries are ongoing.
On January 28, £600,000 worth of cannabis was found in Balblair. Police stopped a car and arrested two people. Also on January 28, £1 million of cannabis was found in Stirling, including 1,400 cannabis plants, and two men were arrested.
On January 20, two men were arrested in Falkirk. Police recovered £80,000 of cannabis and £12,000 in cash, relating it to cannabis operations in Livingston, Edinburgh, and Falkirk with a total street value of £3.6 million.
January 18, Macduff, had £64,800 plant street value. They also dried cannabis worth £5-6k. January 18, Glasgow had 150 cannabis plants. Their estimated value was around £150,000. One man got arrested afterwards.
On January 15, £93,000 in cannabis was seized in Cowdenbeath, and a man was arrested and charged. On January 13, 500 cannabis plants, estimated at around £300,000, were found in Edinburgh, leading to the arrest of a man and woman.
On January 9, £15,000 in drugs, including cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, and ecstasy, were seized in Edinburgh, resulting in the arrest of a man and a woman. On January 3, 245 cannabis plants, worth around £200,000, were found in Ellon, and a man was arrested and charged.
Police are committed to stopping drug misuse and will use all available tools to protect communities. Officers work daily to disrupt drug growth and sales, preventing drugs from reaching the streets, which is crucial to help local people.
Police collaborate with partners and businesses, focusing on individuals and crime groups. Public information is vital for police action, particularly regarding unusual activity at empty buildings and pungent smells. People should call 101 or Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111. Information helps police act against criminals.