COUNTY lines gangs are flooding communities in the Highlands with “foot soldiers” to peddle crack cocaine and heroin, detectives have warned.
Officers have told of the challenge of trying to combat groups from Liverpool, London and Birmingham who are operating out of Inverness.
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One detective compared the problem to a game of whack-a-mole because as soon as they make arrests, more gang members are sent to the north of Scotland to continue the drug dealing networks.
The latest episode of BBC Scotland series Highland Cops focuses on how the county lines drug epidemic has taken further hold in Inverness, bringing increased violence and drug deaths.
Criminals take advantage of local addicts, using their homes to deal from in exchange for free drugs.
Detective Constable Duncan Birse, of Police Scotland, told the programme: “Being born and bred in the Highlands I assume most folk associate Inverness with the Loch Ness Monster and whisky.
“Probably most folk are unaware that actually we have a massive issue here with county lines drug dealing gangs.
“We are looking at six to nine groups operating at any one time from Liverpool or London or Birmingham.
“They will take over a vulnerable person’s house and use multiple addresses within the space of one day to avoid police detection.
“As a born and bred Invernessian it actually really sickens me that these county lines groups have taken such a hold of my home town.
“We can execute search warrants every week but sometimes it feels like you’re playing whack-a-mole. It does feel like these groups seem to have this endless supply of foot soldiers who can keep coming to Inverness to deal drugs.
“It’s something that we’re battling every week.”
Each county lines gang operating out of Inverness is estimated to be making around £4,000 each day from the sale of drugs.
In the programme, officers are seen carrying out drug raids on homes and dealing with the death of a man from a drug overdose.
They are also shown intercepting a package of crack cocaine worth £15,000 which had been posted to the area hidden in a TV remote control.
DC Birse said the actions of the gangs are contributing to Scotland’s drug death rates which are the highest in Europe.
He added: “As the number of county lines groups are increasing that would suggest that the demand is increasing. Unfortunately what we are seeing is that the numbers of drug addicts are on the increase.
“I am meeting more drug users with each week that passes that I’m in this team.
“I do feel that the drugs issue is just getting bigger and bigger.
“We are strongly committed to try to make a difference in the war against drugs.”
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Police Scotland’s North Division has recently expanded its team of dedicated officers with the sole purpose of targeting county lines offenders leading to a rise in arrests and convictions.
Highland Cops is available on BBC iPlayer.
