Police raids set to drive up junkies' demand for methadone

DOCTORS have been warned to expect a surge in heroin addicts seeking methadone after a major operation to take drug dealers off the streets in the Lothians.

Officers have been working with GPs to prepare for a wave of visits by addicts who are no longer able to source their drugs locally.

The warning followed swoops on 22 properties in Midlothian yesterday which saw 13 men and three women detained after their homes were raided.

More than 100 officers took part in Operation Evolve, which was aimed at street-level dealers and took more than a year to plan.

Crack cocaine and heroin, as well as 3000 in cash, were seized during the raids, which took place in Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Pathhead, Gorebridge and Loanhead.

Police chiefs anticipated the blitz would inflict an "enormous dent" in the supply of Class A drugs in the county and consulted closely with doctors to prepare for an increased demand for methadone.

The force hopes that by working with health professionals and other support groups they can encourage drug users to seek treatment for their addictions.

Chief Superintendent Terry Powell, who led the operation, said he believed the actions would have a significant impact on the supply of drugs across Midlothian.

He said: "It's one of the largest and most complex operations that the force has ever undertaken and it's the first time that an operation of this kind has ever been done outside of the city.

"We co-ordinated with health services to ensure they were ready for an increase in people seeking methadone prescriptions. They could be either those who take methadone on top of heroin, or heroin addicts seeking to replace the illegal drugs.

"Some of the dealers themselves were addicts who lived very chaotic lifestyles."

Officers were given their orders at a briefing at 5.30am yesterday, before heading out in a convoy of dozens of vehicles towards Dalkeith and its surrounding areas.

One of the streets targeted was Gibraltar Gardens, where officers in protective clothing raided three properties.

Police dog handlers turned up to help with lengthy searches of the houses. Scuffles and shouts drew neighbours to look out of their windows at the street below, while commuters worked their way past the collection of police vans in the street.

One of the Gibraltar Gardens residents arrested was believed to be a particularly significant player in the local heroin and cocaine trade. Another family member, a man on crutches in his 20s, was also brought to the house by officers from another location.

The initial plan was to raid nine houses yesterday morning but that number rose to 15 as the operation developed. A further seven properties were targeted in a second wave of raids, including a house in Moorfoot View in Bonnyrigg. The home was empty but officers arrested a 29-year-old suspect a short time later at his mother's address in the town.

Police said they were hopeful of "exceptional success" when the cases go before the courts.