Christmas drive to snare dealers

A dealer a day will be targeted as part of operation Advent Calendar

Central Scotland Police have vowed to target a dealer every day as part of a festive crackdown on drugs.

The force has been granted a number of drug search warrants for use throughout December until Christmas Eve.

Operation Advent Calendar will see raids on properties across Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire.

Since its launch on 30 November the crackdown has netted drugs with an estimated street value of £1,500 and resulted in seven arrests.

The operation is part of an ongoing strategy by police in Forth Valley which has seen drugs worth £1.2m seized since the start of April, including eight cannabis cultivations dismantled.

'Real action'

Chief Constable Andrew Cameron urged local communities to help target drug dealers.

He said: "Drugs are the heart of community concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour and whilst Operation Advent Calendar focuses on dealers in the weeks before Christmas, our track record for targeting dealers all year round speaks for itself.

"I want dealers to know that in 2008 we will continue unabated and communities must get the message that giving us information leads to real action and results."