Long fight ahead over drug abuse

If any proof was needed that the war on drugs is a never-ending battle, readers only have to look at intensive activity by police in the north-east recently.

The figures are shocking: almost £3million worth of drugs have been seized by officers in the past year alone.

Large amounts of cocaine, crack, heroin and cannabis have been found in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray by officers, who are carrying out raids at the rate of 10 a week.

More than 500 search warrants have been executed as part of this relentless quest to stem the flow of controlled illegal drugs into the region, and destroy their distribution networks.

It is reassuring that so much effective undercover work goes on behind the scenes to target gangs who exploit the misery of drugs addiction. But for every seizure, more might be slipping through the police net

So many families have been destroyed by the suffering of loved ones ensnared by the evil of drugs, or those pressed into the service of drugs gangs.

Communities are also blighted by fallout from this trade, while others are targeted for theft to support drugs habits.

It is a vicious circle, which is hard to break, but helping vulnerable people off drugs is also a key part of the overall process.

Detective Superintendent Alex Dowall and his team deserve our praise and support.

The public must also play its part to help make the north-east a no-go area for drugs gangs by helping police with valuable intelligence information about suspicious activity.

“It is a vicious circle, but helping vulnerable people off drugs is also a key part of the process”