South Lan at the heart of serious organised crime M74 identified as main trafficking route for drugs and cash
South Lanarkshire Council and Police Scotland have confirmed they are looking into a possible licensing breach by a pub during lockdown.
A complaint was filed against Brew 74 on MacNeish Way in the Stewartfield area of the town, where it was alleged staff sold takeaway drinks without an off-trade license.
A spokesman for the council's licensing department said:“We have just received the complaint and will investigate accordingly.”
Police Scotland confirmed they are“in dialogue with SLC”and are continuing their enquiries into the matter.
A manager for Brew 74 said they would not be making any comment on the allegations at this time.
EMYLIE HOWIE
South Lanarkshire has been at the centre of a police operation in which specialist officers seized over £25millon of controlled drugs.
As part of Operation Venetic, Police Scotland have been working with partners to severely disrupt the activities of serious and organised criminals operating in Scotland in recent weeks.
And East Kilbride, Hamilton, and Lesmahagow have been central to some of the activity, with the M74 identified as the main travel route through the country from the south.
On Wednesday, June 10, officers searched a number of properties in the East Kilbride, Johnstone and Glasgow areas and recovered a firearm, ammunition, two grenades and over £12,000 of cash.
Three men aged 34, 42, and 69 were arrested. Just weeks before that, 65 kg of cocaine was recovered from an HGV lorry at Hamilton Services.
A 53-year man was arrested and charged in connection with the seizure and appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
Assistant Chief Constable Angela McLaren said: “We are absolutely committed to disrupting those involved in serious and organised crime in Scotland.
“These intelligence-led proactive operations, which have been undertaken in partnership with the NCA, UK police forces and Border Force, have resulted in some of the largest seizures made by the service.
“Keeping people safe and continuing to make the country a hostile environment for those who seek to bring misery to our communities through their organised criminality remains a priority for Police Scotland.”
Cocaine, heroin, cannabis, herbal cannabis and thousands of Etizolam tablets have been recovered and officers have arrested 59 people.
As well as hard drugs, over £7 million of laundered cash and a number of firearms, ammunition, explosives have been recovered.
Cops have even seized an industrial pill presses, with six stolen cars and a stolen motorcycle also recovered.
The operation has culminated in the takedown of Encrochat, an encrypted global communication service used exclusively by criminals, which offered a secure mobile phone instant messaging service.
The company’s encryption has now been cracked by an international law enforcement team.
In Scotland, more than 50 warrants have been executed by hundreds of officers at addresses throughout the country.
Assistant Chief Constable McLaren added: “This underlines our commitment to the country’s serious and organised crime strategy through the SOC Taskforce and our collective determination to target those involved and strike at the very centre of their illicit operations.
“Criminals do not recognise borders and we have been working closely with our UK and European law enforcement partners throughout this intense period of activity.”
The most significant ever UK-wide operation into serious and organised crime, activity has taken place across the country involving various police forces and the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Jennifer Harrower, Procurator Fiscal for specialist casework, added: “These recent operations by law enforcement in Scotland exemplify our determination and capability to pursue those involved in serious and organised crime and halt the damage they do to our local communities.
“These seizures and arrests are the result of months of extensive work, but it doesn’t stop there. COPFS will use all the available resources to bring to justice those who seek to profit from serious and organised crime.”