Over the last six months, 13 major operations by the police and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs have resulted in the conviction of 15 serious organised criminals and the seizure of 150 kilos of drugs.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill today highlighted these successes as the kind of joint working that the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce wants to build on as it steps up its fight against criminal gangs.
As part of the work going on to tackle serious organised crime, he welcomed plans by police and other law enforcement partners to pilot joint investigation teams.
The Justice Secretary also welcomed the announcement by the Lord Advocate that since 2003 the Crown Office have secured over £21 million from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The Crown Office have also agreed to be represented at the crime campus at Gartcosh when it is operational.
Speaking in advance of the third meeting of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, Mr MacAskill said:
“Tackling serious organised crime is a priority for this Government. We are committed to supporting the police and other law enforcement agencies in responding to the threat to our communities posed by these criminal gangs.
“The recent successful operations to put these gangsters out of business and off our streets are a demonstration of the commitment, dedication and hard work of all the crime-fighting agencies.
“The Scottish Government established the Taskforce to show our commitment to put these criminal networks out of business. We now want to build on these successes to work together to ramp up the fight against these parasites who live off the backs of our law abiding citizens.
“Plans for the police and other agencies to pilot joint operations will help identify best practice for future such operations against these criminal gangs. .
“The crime campus at Gartcosh will provide the opportunity to deliver joint working to a different level and I am delighted that the Crown Office has decided to include a number of their staff on the campus.
“The Proceeds of Crime Act has proved a real success in the fight against organised crime. Over £21 million has been secured through the courts since the legislation came into force - £5.5milllion in the last year alone. However, we want to use the powers to seize even more of the assets of these gangsters and that is why we are already pursuing ways to strengthen the Act further.
“Scotland’s criminal kingpins and their underlings should be under no illusion. This Government will work with the other members of the Taskforce to take them on and take them down.”
The Serious Organised Crime Taskforce brings together for the first time the Lord Advocate, ACPOS, the SCDEA, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the Scottish Prison Service and the Scottish Government.
Details of some of the major operations against serious organised crime in the last six months are:
Operation ACUMEN- This SCDEA led Heroin trafficking operation lasted 18 months and resulted in the arrest of 40 persons, including a serving prisoner, over a wide geographical area. In January 2008, three of the principal subjects, based in Aberdeen, were sentenced to a total of 15 years imprisonment for Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 offences.
Operation IVORY- In February 2008, a week of action resulted in 13 arrests for Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and firearms offences. 32 rounds of ammunition together with quantities of Cocaine, Amphetamine Sulphate and Cannabis were seized. A male previously arrested as part of this investigation was sentenced to three years eight months imprisonment for Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 offences relating to being found in possession of 2.5 kg of Cocaine.
Operation RED RIVER- This operation focused on the importation of 100 kilograms of Cannabis Resin with a potential street value of £600,000, destined for Aberdeen. Executive action was conducted in Aberdeen and London resulting in four males being arrested. On 7 March 2008 at Edinburgh High Court the principal subject was sentenced to three years eight months imprisonment in relation to the importation of Cannabis Resin.
Operation KLONDYKE- The principal subject is due to appear at Court for sentence having pled guilty to Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and money laundering charges. 16kg. of Cocaine with a potential street value of £800,000 was seized during this operation.
Operation BUSHBABY, an HMRC led operation resulted in five arrests and the seizure of 2.7 million cigarettes from an industrial unit in Lanarkshire. In September 2007 one of the accused, who had pled guilty, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment. A further trial concluded in March 2008 resulting in a four year sentence for Steven McLean.
Operation PENTANOL resulted in the seizure of two kilos of cocaine in December 2007 at Aberdeen airport. HMRC officers detained Cosmos Eke Okoronkwo from Lagos. Okoronkwo had arrived in Aberdeen on a flight from Amsterdam, having begun his journey in Nigeria. The cocaine, with a street value of £287,950 was concealed inside his baggage. He was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment at Edinburgh High Court in March 2008.
Since 2003 a total of £21,044,010 has been secured by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service under the POCA Act, including more than £5.5 million in the past year alone.The Civil Recovery Unit has recovered over £2.7 million in the past year. Over £1.3m of this is in cash seizures alone. The National Casework Division, in Crown Office, deals with the confiscation of the proceeds of crime following conviction. It has secured £2.8m during the past financial year.
Police and law enforcement partners plan to pilot joint investigation teams under the leadership of a single nominated Senior Investigating Officer (SIO), with each partner contributing staff, resources and equipment to tackling the serious organised crime groups that pose the biggest threat to Scotland. This project provides the opportunity to pilot joint working between the agencies and to identify best practice for future operations. Furthermore, as many of the agencies involved will be working together once the Gartcosh Crime Campus is established, this pilot will help ensure that the campus is designed in such a way as to promote joint tasking and co-ordination.
source-Scottish Parliament