Cannabis and heroin among 850kg of drugs seized by police last year

Police seized more than 850kg of illegal drugs from dealers in Scotland last year, figures have shown.

Herbal cannabis and cannabis resin made up more than half of the total at 669kg, followed by 120kgs of cocaine and 54kgs of heroin.

Government statistics for 2016-17 show that Police Scotland seized more than 18,000 cannabis plants, about 8,600 ecstasy-type tablets and 2.2 million Class C drugs including diazepam.

The quantity of Class A and Class B drugs seized was down from more than 1.2 tonnes in 2015-16.

However,thenumberofindividual seizures of cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and cannabis increased from 3,376 to 3,399 between the years.

The National Statistics publication said: “The quantity of drugs seized can fluctuate considerably each year and does not necessarily move in line with the number of seizures made.

“Whilst most drug seizures consist of relatively small quantities (usually possession-related crimes), annual quantities of drugs seized can be greatly influenced by a small number of large seizures (usually from supply-related crimes).”

The vast majority (86 per cent) of offenders were male, with the average age of 29.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Substance misuse devastates too many families and communities across the country.

“We want to address that and change the provision of treatment and support for those who are most at risk.

“That means taking forward evidence-led measures, even if they were to prove controversial.”