Drug officers broaden scope

POLICE officers fighting home-based drug crime in East Lothian said the problem was so widespread that they have been forced to extend a new crackdown.

Detectives at Lothian and Borders Police said Operation Ergot would use tip-offs from neighbours to identify dealers producing and distributing drugs such as cannabis from properties.

They said the focus of the crackdown was initially on Musselburgh, but revealed criminal networks were so extensive that the operation’s scope would be broadened to include the whole of East Lothian.

Operation leader, Sergeant Derek MacDonald, said: “We found there are so many links in all the towns in the region that we are spreading this further afield – it affects 
everybody.”