Four held after police swoop in Inverness drugs raids

THREE men and a woman are due to appear at Inverness Sheriff Court later today after a series of drugs raids in the city.

Homes in the South Kessock area of Inverness were searched on Thursday by Northern Constabulary.

Police said it was as a result of an intelligence led operation into the supply of Class A drugs.

Three men aged 21, 30 and 32 and a woman aged 28 were arrested.

A report has been sent to the procurator fiscal.

Earlier this month fears were expressed to the Highland News that police were losing the drugs war in the city and in the Merkinch area in particular where it was claimed residents are "only 50 yards away" from hard drugs at any time.

The shock revelation from Inverness central Councillor Donnie Kerr, which was backed up by Reverend Richard Burkitt, who runs the drug and alcohol counselling charity For the Right Reasons, came after the recent exposure in the HN of young mums living in fear in a block of flats in Harbour Court, where discarded needles and drug dealing and drug use are commonplace.

Following this, another group of anxious parents living in nearby MacLennan Crescent came forward and expressed their concerns about living in the proximity of alleged dealers and their customers.

They say junkies are visiting the street on a daily basis, at all hours of the day and night, to get their fixes.

Councillor Donnie Kerr told the HN: "The police are very well aware of these issues. It is a very worrying matter and something which we will be raising with them again. I think the police have got to shift their focus to the hard drugs side of things, but it does not seem to be happening.

"We are fighting a losing battle. I am horrified by the number of people that are getting caught up in this."

Reverend Richard Burkitt admitted: "We have far too many people in Merkinch who have addiction problems. everybody in Merkinch lives within 50 yards of a heroin addict - everybody, absolutely everybody."

Anyone who has information regarding those involved in drug dealing and other serious organised crime are asked to contact Northern Constabulary on 0845 600 5703 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.